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Finland has locked in a major change to its online gambling rules, after President Alexander Stubb signed the country’s new Gambling Act on January 16, 2026. The law sets Finland on a clear path away from Veikkaus’ online monopoly and toward a licensing system that is due to go live on July 1, 2027.
For the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), Finland has been the last EU member state still running a fully exclusive online monopoly. With this law now signed, EGBA says the EU’s long shift toward competition-based licensing is effectively complete.
The reform doesn’t rip everything up at once, something still stays with Veikkaus
Under Finland’s plan, betting, online slots and online casino will open to licensed competition, while Veikkaus keeps exclusivity over lottery-type products (and certain land-based offerings, such as physical machines and casino games).
Companies can begin applying for licences from the National Police Board from March 1, 2026, with the new system starting in July 2027. Until then, Veikkaus remains the only legal provider for the monopoly side of the market.
EGBA’s take: “momentum” is now with licensing, not monopolies
EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer supported the move, saying: “The momentum towards multi-licensing in Europe is now complete.”
The trade body argues that a competitive licensing set-up is more likely to pull players toward regulated sites than a monopoly model, which can leave oxygen for offshore brands.
EGBA also used Finland’s decision to keep pressure on Norway and Iceland, which it describes as the remaining European outliers still leaning heavily on monopoly-style control.
Reform of the Gambling sector
Finland’s government has been clear that the various amendments ahead of 2027 are completely deliberate, as is the timing. Regulators need time to get licensing, clear oversight, and be compliance ready before the market opens.
If Finland’s licence terms are tight but workable, the country could become another test case for the Nordic region on whether competition can raise channelisation while keeping harm controls front and centre.
Source: EGBA
