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Finland has taken a decisive step toward ending its long-standing online gambling monopoly, confirming a dual-licence framework that will open the market to private operators from 1 January 2027. The reform, set out in legislative proposal HE 16/2025, reshapes the country’s regulatory landscape by introducing distinct licensing tracks for operators and suppliers, while redefining the role of state-owned incumbent Veikkaus.
The move reflects Finland’s broader objective to align with EU competition standards, strengthen consumer protection and curb unregulated offshore gambling through tighter oversight and supply-chain control.
Under the new framework, Finland will introduce two separate licence categories: business-to-consumer (B2C) gambling game licences and business-to-business (B2B) game-software licences. Operators offering online betting or casino products will be required to hold a B2C licence, valid for five years and taxed at 22% of gross gaming revenue.
A central pillar of the reform is mandatory B2B licensing. Licensed operators will only be permitted to use software supplied by approved B2B providers, creating an additional compliance layer and increasing regulatory scrutiny across the supply chain. Applications for B2C licences are expected to open in early 2026, while B2B software licence applications will follow in early 2027, with full compliance required by January 2028.
To comply with EU competition requirements, Veikkaus will be split into two legally separate entities within the same corporate group. One entity will retain exclusive rights over lottery products, land-based casinos and physical slot machines under a ten-year monopoly licence.
The second entity will compete directly with private operators in the newly liberalised online betting and casino market, operating under the same licensing conditions, tax rates and regulatory obligations as its commercial rivals. Analysts view this structural separation as a critical step in addressing long-standing concerns about market dominance and competitive neutrality.
Regulatory oversight will sit with a new supervisory unit within Finland’s forthcoming Permit and Supervision Agency. The authority will be funded through industry supervision fees and tasked with enforcing compliance, responsible gambling standards and technical requirements.
Industry analysts suggest the model is designed to reduce offshore leakage by closing regulatory gaps that unlicensed operators have historically exploited. The reform follows heightened scrutiny of Veikkaus’ conduct ahead of demonopolisation, including public criticism from Swedish operator ATG and reports of declining financial performance earlier in 2025.
As Finland prepares for the 2027 launch, attention will increasingly turn to implementation details such as licence fees, enforcement mechanisms and transition arrangements, all of which will shape how attractive and competitive the new market becomes.
Sources: Gambling Insider, iGaming Express
