Short answer
Finland licenses online gambling under the new Gambling Act (Rahapelilaki 10/2026), which ends the online monopoly of the state company Veikkaus. The National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) has accepted applications since 1 March 2026; from 1 July 2027 the Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) takes over and licensed operators may launch. A gambling license covers online betting, online casino, online slots and online bingo; it costs €29,000 to apply, then an annual supervision fee of €4,000 to €434,000 banded by gaming revenue, and licensed games pay a 22% lottery tax on GGR. Licenses run for up to 5 years. Applicants must be established in the EEA or appoint an EEA representative, and file in Finnish or Swedish. Lotteries, pools and land-based slots and casinos stay with Veikkaus.
Status on 22 October 2026: the Police Board had received 75 applications by 22 September 2026 (one company can file several). On 15 October 2026 Malta-based Wildz Group announced that it had been granted the first license; the Police Board has not published decisions. Licensed operators still cannot offer games in Finland before 1 July 2027.
Finland at a glance
- Regulator
- National Police Board until 30 June 2027; Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) from 1 July 2027
- Primary law
- Gambling Act (Rahapelilaki 10/2026), based on Government Bill HE 16/2025 vp; licensing chapters in force from 1 March 2026, the rest from 1 July 2027
- Market opening
- Licensed operators may offer and market games from 1 July 2027
- License types
- Gambling license (B2C: betting, online casino, online slots, online bingo); game software license (B2B); exclusive license (Veikkaus only)
- License term
- Up to 5 years, renewable; shorter on request
- Eligible applicants
- Established in the EEA, or a non-EEA company with an EEA-resident representative; no license cap and no application deadline
- Language
- Applications in Finnish or Swedish
- Time to license
- Police Board target about 6 months, now indicated as 6–8 months; first approval announced on 15 October 2026 (Wildz Group), about seven months after the window opened
- Licenses granted
- First publicly announced: Wildz Group, 15 October 2026; the Police Board does not yet publish a register — the Finnish Supervisory Agency will keep one from 1 July 2027
- Minimum age
- 18 for all games
Is Finland the right license for you?
A good fit when
- Finnish players are a target market and you want to be live on 1 July 2027
- You can run registered-account play with strong identification, deposit limits and central self-exclusion
- You can market without affiliates, influencers or sign-up bonuses
Look elsewhere when
- You want a license that also covers other EU markets — Finland licenses Finland only
- Your acquisition depends on affiliates, influencers or welcome bonuses
- You need to take Finnish players before July 2027
Finland license types
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling license (B2C) | Online betting, casino, slots and bingo operators | €29,000 application; up to 5 years; each game type must be covered (amendment €1,120 to add one) |
| Game software license (B2B) | Game and platform suppliers to Finnish licensees | Applications from 1 July 2027; from 1 July 2028 licensees may use only licensed software |
| Exclusive license | Veikkaus Oy only | Lotteries, pools, land-based slots and casinos; a holder of exclusive rights cannot also hold a gambling license |
Finland license costs and tax
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee, gambling license | €29,000 | On filing; the file is examined only after payment | Decree on police fees, in force 1 March 2026 |
| License amendment or international cooperation authorization | €1,120 | Per change | Decree on police fees |
| Annual supervision fee, gambling license | €4,000 – €434,000 | Yearly from 1 July 2027 | Gambling Act; banded by gaming revenue (under €100,000 to €50m and above) |
| Annual supervision fee, software license | ≈ €1,500 | Yearly | Reported figure; confirm against the final decree |
| Year one, smallest operator (application + supervision fee) | ≈ €33,000 – €39,000 | Year 1 | Excludes testing, platform, legal and representative costs |
The application fee is charged per application and is not refunded on refusal. Operators with no gambling license in the previous year are reported to pay a base supervision fee of €10,000 in their first year; confirm the final amount against the Ministry of the Interior decree.
Tax
- Lottery tax (licensed games)
- 22% of GGR (stakes less winnings paid) from 1 July 2027, filed monthly with the Tax Administration
- Veikkaus until 1 July 2027
- 12% under the exclusive-rights regime
- Player winnings
- Tax-free for players when the game is lawfully offered under the law of an EEA state
- Corporate tax
- 20% on profits of a Finnish company or branch
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Gambling Act (Rahapelilaki) 10/2026 | Licensing, supervision, marketing and player protection |
| Lotteries Act 1047/2001 | Applies to lotteries and until the new Act fully takes effect |
| Lottery Tax Act, amendment 14/2026 | 22% lottery tax on licensed games from 1 July 2027 |
| Decree on police fees (2026) | €29,000 application fee; €1,120 amendments |
| Police Board regulations 2026/9 and 2026/10 | Random-number testing; reliability and security of gaming systems |
Marketing and bonus rules
From 1 July 2027 licensed operators may market only through the channels the Act allows, and every ad must show the license held and the supervising authority, with an 18+ age mark. Affiliate and influencer marketing, telemarketing and unsolicited direct marketing are prohibited, as is marketing aimed at minors or vulnerable people. Social media is limited to the operator's own channels; sponsorship is limited to brand visibility.
Sign-up, VIP and loyalty bonuses are banned. Existing customers may receive only moderate bonuses on equal terms, which cannot be exchanged for cash, with a reported wagering cap of 5x. Play on credit is prohibited.
Unlicensed operators targeting Finland face marketing bans and payment blocking. Finnish authorities have already fined operators and media for illegal gambling marketing under the Lotteries Act.
Local substance and eligibility
- Applicant established in the EEA; a non-EEA company appoints an EEA-resident representative who meets the same conditions
- Fit-and-proper review of the company, board, management and anyone holding 25% or more: no prison sentence or corporate fine in the past 5 years, no serious tax neglect in the past 3 years, adequate financial standing
- A prohibition or penalty under the Lotteries Act decided after 1 September 2024 bars an application for two years
- No minimum share capital, guarantee or license cap is set by the Act
- Gaming systems tested and approved before games run; licensed B2B software only from 1 July 2028
- Connection to the central self-exclusion register and the cross-operator controls set by the regulator
- A license from Malta, the UK, Curaçao or another state gives no right to offer games in Finland
Setting up the licensee: company formation for gambling licenses.
How to get a Finland license
- Month 1
Structure and eligibility
Confirm EEA establishment or appoint an EEA representative; map the game types to license; check the two-year bar for past Lotteries Act sanctions.
- Months 1–2
Dossier
Ownership and management, financial position, criminal records, game types and software suppliers, marketing plan, AML plan, complaints and match-fixing procedures — in Finnish or Swedish.
- Month 2
File and pay
Pay €29,000 and file with the National Police Board; examination starts after payment.
- Months 2–10
Review
Police Board review, targeted at 6–8 months; answer information requests quickly — incomplete files are the main cause of delay.
- Parallel
Platform and testing
Registered-account play, strong identification, deposit limits, self-exclusion connection, tested random-number and gaming systems.
- 1 July 2027
Launch
Go live once licensed; register for the 22% lottery tax and pay the annual supervision fee to the Finnish Supervisory Agency.
Document checklist
Corporate
- Identity, legal form and registry extract
- Ownership chain to 25% holders, board and management
- EEA representative appointment (non-EEA applicants)
People and finance
- Criminal-record and business-prohibition extracts for key persons
- Financial statements or projections and funding evidence
- Tax compliance evidence (3 years)
Operations
- Game types and software suppliers
- Marketing plan within the permitted channels
- Complaints procedure
- Match-fixing prevention procedure
Compliance and technical
- AML/CFT plan with customer due diligence and risk assessment
- Testing-house reports and approval of gaming systems
- Responsible-gambling controls: limits, self-exclusion, monitoring
After the license
Tax
Monthly 22% lottery tax returns and payments to the Tax Administration.
Supervision fee
Annual fee to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, banded by the previous year's gaming revenue.
Player protection
Registered play only, strong identification, player-set daily and monthly deposit limits, panic button, central self-exclusion.
Reporting and data
Game and account data available to the regulator; technical data-delivery rules notified to the EU in 2026 are expected from 1 July 2027.
Changes
Amend the license before adding game types; notify ownership and management changes.
Finland compared
| Finland | Estonia | Malta | Romania | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license fees | €4,000–€434,000 supervision fee (by GGR, from July 2027) | No annual license fee | €25,000 + contribution (min €15,000) | €1,280,000 B2C · €45,500 B2B year one, then €35,000 |
| Tax on GGR | 22% GGR (from 1 July 2027) | 5.5% GGR (2026) | 15% / 10% on players in Malta | 30% GGR, min €480,000 |
| Time to license | 6–8 months; market opens 1 July 2027 | 6–12 months | 4–6 months | 6–9 months B2C · 2–3 months B2B |
| Local substance | EEA establishment or EEA representative; filing in Finnish or Swedish | EE or EU company, €1m capital (games of chance) | MT company, key functions, system audit | B2C: RO entity or PE, mirror server · B2B: RO entity, or EU/EEA entity with local representative |
| Status | EU regulator (market opens 2027) | EU regulator | EU regulator | EU regulator |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. In Romania, operators need a Class 1 (B2C) license and suppliers a Class 2 (B2B) license. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Written and reviewed by Alex Szilaghi
Founder of Szilaghi Consulting, licensing gambling businesses since 2004 across EU, UK, Canadian and offshore jurisdictions, based in Romania and working before ONJN on Class 1 and Class 2 files. We act as Romanian representative and local director for foreign ONJN licensees and file their monthly regulatory reports, so these guides reflect how the rules are applied in practice, not only how they read.
Last legal review . Current to the Police Board / LVV framework as of the review date. General information, not legal advice.
Finland gambling license — FAQs
When does Finland open its online gambling market?
Licensed operators may offer and market online betting, casino, slots and bingo from 1 July 2027. License applications have been accepted by the National Police Board since 1 March 2026.
How much does a Finnish gambling license cost?
The application fee is €29,000 per application. From 1 July 2027 licensees also pay an annual supervision fee of €4,000 to €434,000, depending on gaming revenue, and 22% lottery tax on GGR.
What is the gambling tax in Finland?
22% of gross gaming revenue for licensed games from 1 July 2027. Veikkaus pays 12% under its exclusive-rights regime until then.
Who can apply for a Finnish gambling license?
Companies established in the EEA, and non-EEA companies that appoint an EEA-resident representative. The company, its board, management and 25% owners must pass a fit-and-proper review. There is no license cap and no minimum share capital in the Act.
How long does it take to get a Finnish license?
The National Police Board indicates 6–8 months per application. It had received 75 applications by 22 September 2026, and the first approval was announced by Wildz Group on 15 October 2026. A license granted now still allows operations only from 1 July 2027.
Has Finland granted any gambling licenses yet?
Yes. Wildz Group announced on 15 October 2026 that it had received the first license under the new Act. The National Police Board has not published its decisions; the Finnish Supervisory Agency will keep a public register of licensees from 1 July 2027.
Does a Malta or Curaçao license allow me to take Finnish players?
No. Only a Finnish gambling license allows offering games to players in Finland; unlicensed operators face marketing bans and payment blocking.
Can I use affiliates or welcome bonuses in Finland?
No. Affiliate and influencer marketing and sign-up bonuses are prohibited. Only moderate bonuses for existing customers are allowed.
Do game suppliers need a Finnish license?
Yes. Game software license applications open on 1 July 2027, and from 1 July 2028 licensed operators may use only software from licensed suppliers.
Sources
Figures were checked against the regulator and legislation listed below on 22 October 2026. Fees, tax rates and restricted-market lists change; confirm with us before you commit capital.
- iGaming Business — Wildz Group announces Finland's first online licence approval (15 October 2026)
- Finnish Government — Licence fees for gambling services added to the decree on police fees (26 January 2026)
- Finlex — Gambling Act (Rahapelilaki) 10/2026
- Finlex — National Police Board regulation on gambling (2026)
- Gambling.com — 75 gambling licence applications filed in Finland (25 September 2026)
- iGaming Business — Finland: licensing window opens for Europe's newest market
- Hannes Snellman — Finnish gambling reform, part III: how to apply for a licence
Find out if Finland fits before you pay a fee
We screen the ownership chain, check banking and payment fit for your markets, and price the full year-1 cost before anything is filed. Then we incorporate, prepare the dossier and handle the regulator through to go-live.
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