Finland prepares for regulated gambling roll out in 2027
Finland’s new Gambling Act has been formally published after receiving final assent from President Alexander Stubb on January 16, completing a wide-ranging overhaul of the country’s gambling regulation.
The legislation, approved by Parliament in December, restructures the legal framework governing gambling activities conducted in or directed at Finland. It sets out licensing, supervision and enforcement rules aimed at strengthening consumer protection, preventing crime and reducing gambling-related harm.
The Act introduces a dual licensing system, separating exclusive licences reserved for state-controlled companies from open licences available to private operators for specified betting and online casino products. Gaming software suppliers are also subject to licensing requirements.
New player safeguards include mandatory registration, identity verification, spending limits, self-exclusion tools and a ban on credit-based gambling. Advertising is tightly restricted, particularly where minors or vulnerable groups may be exposed.
Regulatory oversight will transfer to a new National Supervisory Authority. Most provisions take effect on 1 July 2027, with preparatory measures commencing in March 2026.
