Finland Grants First 12 Online Gambling Licenses

Finland Grants First 12 Online Gambling Licenses – Private Market Prepares for 2027 Launch

Key Takeaways

• The National Police Board approved 12 operators for the new online market opening on July 1, 2027.
• Regulators received 79 license applications by late October with zero rejections recorded so far.
• Approved entities include Skill On Net and Wildz Group, while state monopoly Veikkaus awaits approval.
• Finland generated an estimated €1.9 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2026.

National Police Board clears initial applicant wave

Finland is advancing its plan to liberalize a historically state-run gambling sector. Regulators are actively processing applications for private operators to enter the digital betting space. The official market launch is scheduled for July 1, 2027. This shift represents a major structural change for the national gambling framework.

The National Police Board oversees this ongoing licensing process and evaluates all incoming provider requests. Official data obtained through an information request confirms the first batch of successful applicants. The regulatory body received 79 gambling license applications by October 26.

Regulators granted 12 licenses so far in this initial review phase. Zero applications have faced rejection at this stage of the assessment process. The gap between submitted applications and approvals indicates a substantial ongoing review workload for the licensing authority.

Twelve operators secure early market entry

Several gaming companies previously announced their successful applications independently. The recent regulatory confirmation provides the first official list of approved operators ahead of the anticipated market opening. The approved list includes a mix of international and regional gaming companies preparing for the 2027 launch.

Regulators cleared Hippos ATG Oy and Sunflower Gaming Limited for future operations. Granturo Finland Ltd, which operates under the Wildz Group banner, and Skill On Net Ltd also secured their licenses. Other approved entities include SuomiVeto Oy, Cloudberry Ent Limited, and SixthSpin Limited.

The remaining successful applicants are KuuFlip Limited, RocketLily Ent Limited, Nivei Ursi Limited, YTBlue Limited, and Buccone Trading Limited. These companies hold verified authorization to launch their online gaming platforms when the new regulatory framework takes effect. Operators must now wait for the official market opening date to activate their services.

State monopoly Veikkaus awaits regulatory green light

The current state monopoly operator is notably absent from the initial list of approved licenses. Veikkaus submitted its own application to compete in the newly liberalized online sector. The company currently controls all legal gambling operations across the country. Regulators are still reviewing this specific application alongside dozens of other pending submissions.

Market observers expect Veikkaus to hold a strong position once the online market opens to private competition. The operator possesses high brand recognition and an expansive existing customer database. Veikkaus will not lose all of its exclusive rights under the upcoming framework.

The company retains its monopoly over lottery products, scratch cards, and land-based gaming machines. Private competition will apply exclusively to the digital gambling sector. This creates a dual regulatory system separating physical gaming from online platforms.

High online revenue share drives operator interest

Finland is one of the last European nations to dismantle its exclusive monopoly gambling model. The transition draws significant interest from international operators due to highly favorable market conditions. Data from H2 Gambling Capital indicates the market reached an estimated gross gaming revenue of €1.9 billion in 2026.

The country features one of the highest per-capita gambling rates globally. Online platforms generate an estimated 81 percent of the total market revenue. This heavy reliance on digital channels makes the newly liberalized sector particularly attractive to internet-based gaming providers.

The Finnish market is widely considered mature and operates under a broadly well-received regulatory regime. A stable political consensus currently backs the new gambling framework. This stability contrasts sharply with many other European jurisdictions. Operators in other regions frequently face regulatory tightening and tax increases.

Our Assessment

The approval of the first 12 licenses marks a definitive step in Finland’s transition toward an open licensing model. The high volume of initial applications indicates strong industry interest ahead of the July 2027 launch date. Regulators are processing these requests without any initial rejections, suggesting a structured and predictable application environment for prospective operators.

The upcoming division of the market allows private operators to target the highly lucrative online segment. Veikkaus maintains absolute control over physical and lottery products while transitioning to a competitive stance online. The estimated market size and heavy reliance on digital revenue sources position Finland as a major target for international expansion. Stable political backing provides operators with regulatory predictability compared to other European markets undergoing restrictive changes.