Veikkaus Parliament approved a new gambling law – the Finnish gambling market will be partially opened to competition
16.12.2025 13:45:41 | Veikkaus Oy | Press release
The Parliament has today approved the government's proposal for a new gambling act. With the reform, Veikkaus' exclusive right to organize gambling will end in betting games and online slot machine and casino games in the summer of 2027.
Veikkaus will continue to have the exclusive right to lottery games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games.
Gambling companies can apply for licenses, or operating permits, starting on 1 March 2026, and licensed gambling operations in the new license markets will start on 1 July 2027. Veikkaus must apply for an operating permit for exclusive operations, and we can also apply for an operating permit to operate gambling in a competitive market.
The aim of the reform is to prevent and reduce the harm caused by gambling, among other things, by directing gambling to a more efficiently regulated and supervised gaming offering. With the new law, foreign competitors will be subject to the same rules and conditions as Veikkaus.
– We have been waiting for a model that improves the possibilities of channeling gambling into a licensed offering. Veikkaus has not had a real exclusive right to gambling in Finland for a long time. According to various estimates, up to 600–900 million euros are played outside the official system annually, says Veikkaus' Deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoski.
Supervision of gambling activities will be transferred from the National Police Board to the new Licensing and Supervision Agency. The licensee must ensure that the gambling games it operates cause as little gambling harm as possible. According to the law, the licensee can market gambling games to a limited extent in different channels. Marketing is also permitted on the company's own website and social media accounts.
– It is important that the license market is attractive enough for companies to apply for a license. At the same time, it is also necessary to ensure that unauthorized supply is tackled effectively enough. If unauthorized supply of gambling cannot be effectively prevented, there is a risk that the realization of the channeling goal and the reduction of gambling harm will be difficult, says Nummikoski.
Veikkaus continues to actively prepare for the new gambling system and license market.
– The reform of the gambling system was actually launched at Veikkaus' initiative in 2022, and we have been preparing for it for a long time. The reform of the gambling system is a historic change and a great opportunity for Veikkaus, Nummikoski summarizes.
Contact persons
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