Application Processing and Fees
Finland’s National Police Board has recorded 50 licence applications for the upcoming iGaming market, with foreign operators accounting for the majority of submissions. The applications were filed following the introduction of the country’s new gambling regulatory framework earlier this year. Each applicant must pay a €29,000 processing fee for licences valid in 2026, after which substantive evaluation begins. Senior advisor Juha Katainen noted that the predominance of international companies increases processing complexity. The authority examines corporate register extracts, certificates and financial reports to verify applicant reliability and suitability. Affiliated company finances are also reviewed to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate money laundering risks.Regulatory Details and Market Outlook
The iGaming bill passed in January, but several regulatory parameters remain undefined. Jarkko Nordlund, head of icasino and sportsbook at Veikkaus, stated: "The law is fine. Now everyone is begging a bit, like, what are the definitions of the law? We still don’t know how we’re able to use bonusing, what advertising is allowed, what media is allowed, duty of care, player protection. Everyone is pro licensed market, but we would love to have the nitty gritty details." The scheduled 2027 market liberalisation will end Veikkaus’ current monopoly on online betting and gaming. Industry consultant Jari Vähänen recently valued the state-owned gaming group at €4.5 billion, including its lottery and physical slot operations.Industry estimates from March projected 40 to 50 licences for the initial rollout, a threshold now reached more than a year before the proposed launch date.