Finland Gambling Licensing

When does the new Finnish gambling licensing system start?

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The licensed market for online betting and casino games will officially open on 1 July 2027. Until then, Veikkaus Oy remains the sole legal operator.

Who is the gambling regulator in Finland?

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The National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) is the authority responsible for granting gambling licences and supervising all licensed operators in Finland.

Which gambling products can be offered under the new licences?

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Licences will be available for online betting, online casino games (including slots), and electronic money bingo.

What games will Veikkaus still have a monopoly on after July 2027?

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Veikkaus Oy will retain its exclusive right to operate lotteries, scratch cards, land-based casinos, and land-based slot machines.

In what language must a licence application be submitted?

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Applications for a Finnish gambling licence must be submitted to the National Police Board in either Finnish or Swedish.

Are B2B game suppliers required to have a licence?

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Yes. A B2B licence for suppliers of gambling software and systems will be required. This requirement becomes mandatory on 1 July 2028.

Who undergoes a 'fit and proper' test for a licence application?

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The applicant company, its major shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, and key management personnel are all subject to a fit and proper assessment by the National Police Board.

How do I identify myself to the online licence service?

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The representative of the applicant uses strong electronic identification to log in. Representatives without a Finnish personal identity code can identify themselves using common European eID methods together with the Finnish Authenticator app.

How is the licence application fee paid?

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The applicant must provide a billing address in the application. The National Police Board sends invoices primarily as e-invoices, otherwise by post; a copy can be emailed on request. The fee is invoiced once the matter becomes pending and must be paid before a decision is taken — the application will not proceed until the invoice is paid.

When is a licence required under the Gambling Act?

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Providing gambling services in Finland becomes a licensed activity from 1 July 2027. From that date, only operators holding an exclusive licence or a gambling licence may sell, market, broker or offer games. From 1 July 2028, the gaming software used must come from a licensed software provider. Licences apply to both physical and online operations.

What is the difference between a gambling licence and an exclusive licence?

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An exclusive licence grants one operator the sole right to provide specific gambling services and is reserved for a state-controlled limited company. A gambling licence has no quantitative cap and can be granted to any legal entity or natural person meeting the fitness and propriety requirements. Gambling licences cover, e.g., betting and online casino games; exclusive licences cover pools, lotteries, slot machines and casinos.

What is a gambling software licence and when is it needed?

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A gambling software licence permits the manufacture, supply, installation or adaptation of software used in gambling services — including betting platforms, RNGs, live casino streaming, transaction monitoring, calculation engines, result determination and winnings handling. Applications open at the Supervisory Agency on 1 January 2027; the licence becomes mandatory on 1 January 2028.

When do I need an international cooperation licence?

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You need one if you intend to offer gambling services in partnership with one or more operators, where at least one partner does not hold a Finnish licence. All partners must be known and must be lawfully authorised in their own jurisdictions; none may offer services in Finland without the appropriate licence here.

Where and how can I apply for a licence?

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Apply in writing to the National Police Board. You can apply via the online service (recommended), by email or by letter. The online service is provided through the Regional State Administrative Agency.

Can I obtain a Finnish licence automatically if I hold one in another EU/EEA country?

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No. The supervisory authority always independently assesses each application against the Finnish Gambling Act.

How much is the application fee?

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The application fee for an exclusive licence and a gambling licence is EUR 29,000 (set annually in the Decree on Police Fees). It is charged regardless of whether the decision is positive or negative. An annual supervision fee applies once a licence is in force.

Is the application fee refunded if the application is rejected?

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No. The fee is charged for every application, regardless of outcome.

How long does it take to process a licence application?

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The target processing time is 3–6 months. Applications may take longer; carefully completing the application and following the instructions is the best way to keep yours on track.

How do I withdraw a licence application?

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Contact the supervisory authority in writing (email is accepted). The authority then issues an official decision closing the case. If processing has already started before the withdrawal request is received, the full application fee is still charged.

How long can a licence be valid?

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A gambling licence is granted for up to five years; an exclusive licence is always granted for ten years. You may choose the start date, but no earlier than 1 July 2027. Licences cannot be backdated.

Do I need a separate licence for each implementation?

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No — a single gambling licence can cover multiple implementations, provided each is specified in the application. You may apply for several separate licences if you prefer, but a fee is charged per application and the administrative burden increases. Exclusive licence applicants must apply separately for (a) lotteries and betting and (b) slot machines and casino games.

What if I add new software suppliers later?

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List your known gambling software suppliers on the application. If suppliers change or are added later, submit a written amendment notification to the supervisory authority within two weeks of the change. From 1 July 2028, software providers themselves must hold a gambling software licence.

How much detail is required about marketing?

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At minimum, describe the marketing methods and channels you will use (web, TV, radio, print, social media, outdoor, sponsorship, events), all brand names used, and how you protect minors and vulnerable people from marketing. A marketing plan can be attached. The information helps the authority plan future guidance and audits.

What if the application form lacks a suitable field?

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Use the 'Additional information' field or attach a separate document with the missing details.

Must responsible persons' personal ID codes be provided?

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Yes for Finnish personal ID codes — they are essential for background checks on fitness and propriety. For foreign persons, provide other identifying information (e.g. date of birth). Personal data can be submitted securely via the online service or encrypted email.

Can attachments be submitted in a language other than Finnish or Swedish?

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Applications are processed in Finnish or Swedish. The authority may require certified translations of foreign-language attachments; the applicant arranges and pays for these. Translation delays are the applicant's responsibility.

Why do foreign-registered applicants submit more attachments?

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If the operator is established in Finland, the authority can pull information directly from Finnish registers. Foreign-registered applicants must supply equivalent evidence themselves.

What about confidential information in the application?

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Authority documents are public by default. Clearly flag any information you consider confidential and state the legal grounds. The authority decides whether to restrict publicity.

Can the National Police Board obtain Finnish applicants' data from other authorities directly?

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Not always — full financial statements, for example, are not always available through inter-authority channels. Some attachments are therefore mandatory for every applicant regardless of country of registration.

My organisation has no formal articles of association. Can I still apply?

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Yes. Submit a free-form description of the purpose of your activities equivalent to articles of association or bylaws. Natural persons provide a free-form description of their activity.

What must the financial statements contain?

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Income statement, balance sheet and notes (plus a cash flow statement if required). Include comparatives for the previous period, the auditor's report, lists of accounts and records, and balance sheet breakdowns. All documents must be signed.

My company is still in its first financial period — what do I submit?

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Provide an equivalent report on the financial position (e.g. cash flow statement or financing plan) covering estimated turnover, available equity and debt, a breakdown of short- and long-term liabilities, and significant agreements affecting the company's finances.

I am applying as a natural person without accounts. What do I attach?

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Submit an action plan for the coming year and your financial position: personal wealth, the assets making it up, taxed income for the previous year, debts, and significant agreements that affect your finances.

Can a newly established company obtain a licence?

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Possibly. Required attachments are not in themselves a barrier — a new operator may submit an action plan instead of an annual report and a financing plan instead of financial statements. Assessment may also extend to companies directly or indirectly linked to the applicant.

Why must foreign-registered applicants attach a register extract?

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The extract proves the application decision was taken in accordance with the entity's own rules, confirms signing authority, and verifies the applicant's legal name so the licence is issued to the correct entity. Finnish-registered applicants do not need it — the supervisory authority obtains it via the compliance report.

Why must foreigners submit their own criminal records and certificates of compliance?

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Finnish authorities can pull this information for Finnish citizens and permanent residents from official registers. For people without a Finnish personal ID code, no equivalent register access exists, so the certificates must be supplied by the applicant. They are used to verify there are no disqualifying offences and that legal obligations have been met.

What should the certificates of compliance show?

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Whether the applicant or responsible person is bankrupt, has any enforcement debts (and how much), has unpaid taxes or statutory levies, or is disqualified from business activity. Tax debt and enforcement certificates plus a business disqualification check are mandatory; other evidence may be requested.

Are there formal requirements for fitness-and-propriety certificates?

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Yes. Each attachment must show the issuing authority's name and contact details, and must be no older than six months at the date the application becomes pending.

What if I cannot obtain a particular certificate?

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Submit a written explanation of why the certificate is unavailable. The supervisory authority will assess case-by-case whether the application can still proceed.

What does 'connecting to supervision system interfaces' mean?

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Licence holders must integrate with the authority's digital services — the self-exclusion register and the Official Control Signing Service (OCSS) — and operate a separate data vault from which the authority can retrieve gambling transaction and account data. Integration work can begin once the licence has been granted; the authority then provides documentation and access to the test environment.

What is the difference between an amendment application and an amendment notification?

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An amendment application is required when something stated in the licence decision itself changes (e.g. a new implementation, name change) and results in a new appealable decision and processing fee. An amendment notification covers changes to information that appeared only in the application (e.g. responsible persons) — no fee, no separate decision.

Can a licence holder change owners or transfer the licence?

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Licences cannot be sold or assigned. If control of a licence-holding legal entity is transferred via an ownership, contractual or other arrangement, the holder must submit an amendment notification in writing within two weeks. The authority then re-assesses whether the licence conditions are still met.

Can a licence holder change its name?

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Yes — but the licence decision must be amended to reflect the new name. Submit an amendment application to the supervisory authority.

Can I extend the term of an existing licence?

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No. To continue beyond the term, apply for a new licence. Applying at least six months before expiry lets you continue operating uninterrupted while processing completes.

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