Finland is steadily advancing the reshaping of the gambling industry, with the Ministry of the Interior incorporating gambling license fees into the 2026 Police Service Fee Decree, a move that aligns with the new Gambling Act requirements, paving the way for a competitive gambling market by mid-2027. The new decree clarifies the fee rules for exclusive licenses, standard gambling licenses, and international cooperation authorizations, while also regulating the transitional license handling process. As an important step in the reform of the European gambling market, its compliance transformation experience can be referenced on the PASA official website.
License Fees and Application Rules: Unified Costs, Clear Procedures
The new decree clearly defines the related costs and application framework for gambling licenses, reducing information barriers to market entry:
Core cost standards: The application fee for both exclusive and standard gambling licenses is 29,000 euros; changes to existing licenses, and applications for international cooperation authorizations by holders of exclusive/standard licenses, each require a payment of 1120 euros;
Application timeline: Starting early March 2026, businesses can submit license applications to the National Police Board;
Decree validity: Officially effective from March 1, 2026, until December 31, 2026, covering only the initial license issuance phase before the market opens;
Subsequent guidance: The National Police Board will be responsible for handling and reviewing applications, and more detailed application procedures will be published later.
Transitional Arrangements: Holding a License ≠ Operation, Monopoly Continues Until Mid-2027
The period from 2026 to mid-2027 is a transitional phase for market transformation, with a clear time difference between license issuance and commercial operation:
Operational start restrictions: Operators approved in 2026 must wait until July 1, 2027, when the new Gambling Act takes effect, to start gambling services and marketing;
Current monopoly structure: During the transition period, only Veikkaus Oy can provide gambling services in Finland, operating under existing rules and supervised by the National Police Board until the end of June 2027;
Core purpose: To provide operators with sufficient preparation time while ensuring a smooth transition from monopoly to competition in the market, avoiding industry shocks.
Core of Market Reform: Breaking the Monopoly, Clear Business Segmentation
The President of Finland has signed the new Gambling Act, signaling the end of the long-standing gambling monopoly. The reform focuses on "open competition + retaining core exclusive rights":
Open competition areas: Online betting, online casino games, slot machines, and real money bingo will be open to licensed operators, introducing market competition;
Retained exclusive rights: Veikkaus Oy will still monopolize lottery games, instant lotteries, offline slot machines, and casino operations;
Core goals of the reform: To increase the proportion of compliant gambling in the overall market while strengthening player protection, making the gambling industry more sustainable.
Regulatory Handover and Player Protection: Full Process Safeguarding
The reform involves not only adjustments to the market structure but also improvements to the regulatory system and player protection mechanisms:
Regulatory responsibility handover
Transition period (March 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027): The National Police Board will serve as the licensing and regulatory authority;
After official operation (starting July 1, 2027): The Finnish Regulatory Authority will take over the full responsibilities for license issuance and regulation, completing the restructuring of the regulatory system.
Player protection and technical requirements
Mandatory protection measures: Including mandatory identity verification, deposit limits, a centralized self-exclusion system, prohibition of credit gambling, and regulated bonus distribution;
Technical compliance requirements: Starting in 2028, operators must use only software provided by licensed suppliers to ensure system security and compliance.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
