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Finland has started putting the pieces in place for its new gambling system, and one of the first steps is adding license fees to the decree on police services.
The change comes after President Alexander Stubb signed the Gambling Act in January, a law that will open online betting, slots, casino games, and money bingo to competition from July 2027. Veikkaus will keep control of lotteries, scratch cards, and physical slot machines, but the online market will shift to a license model.
Licence Applications Open in March 2026
From March 1, 2026, companies can submit applications for both exclusive and general gambling licences to the National Police Board. The decree sets the cost of these licenses at EUR 29,000.
Alterations to existing licenses, as well as authorizations for international cooperation, will carry a fee of EUR 1,120. The Ministry explained that “the new fees will be charged for an exclusive licence, a gambling licence and an authorisation for international cooperation for the holder of an exclusive licence or a gambling licence.”
The decree itself will remain in force until December 31, 2026, covering the period when the licensing pipeline is first opened and managed by the police authority.
The National Police Board will continue as the licensing authority until June 30, 2027. After that, responsibility shifts to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will oversee both licensing and compliance once the competitive market begins on July 1, 2027. From that date, licensed operators can start running and marketing gambling games under the new law.
A Renewed Market
The broader Gambling Act keeps Veikkaus in charge of lotteries, scratch cards, and physical slot machines, but opens online betting, slots, casino games, and money bingo to competition.
The Ministry of the Interior has said the aim is to increase the share of gambling that happens inside the regulated system, while strengthening harm‑prevention rules.
Mandatory identification, deposit limits, and a centralized self-exclusion system are built into the law, alongside restrictions on bonuses and credit-based play. By 2028, operators will also be required to use only software supplied by licensed providers.
