Finland's gambling licensing system to go into effect no later than January 2026, says Ministry of Interior

Finland’s gambling system will become a licensing system no later than the beginning of January 2026, the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed. The Finnish government presented a legislative project in October last year to reform its current monopoly market with state-owned Veikkaus, moving to a licensing system.

In announcing the date, the Ministry of the Interior said that the reform would help prevent and reduce gambling harm, as well as improve the channelization of the gambling system. 

The Government’s economic policy ministerial committee provided further details last Friday on the country’s upcoming gambling system, noting that horse racing betting will be covered in the licensing system alongside online casino and sports betting.

In addition, the Government confirmed that Finland’s gambling system would begin its licensing system no later than 1st January 2026. The draft legislation has been sent to the European Commission to be reviewed, in an effort to obtain feedback from the Commission and other EU member states on the proposal’s consistency with EU legislation and the principles of free movement.

The Ministry of the Interior’s statement read: “The Government’s economic policy ministerial committee outlined on Friday, November 1, that in the new gambling system according to the Government program, horse gambling will also move to the competitive license market like another betting. As a result of the solution, the allocations for the promotion of horse breeding and horse sports will no longer be allocated to competitive activities. 

“In the future, through the state budget, support will be allocated to breeding, operator-specific advice in the horse industry, and the development of the competition system, as well as to Hippos ry, which is responsible for the industry’s general development work, anti-doping control, and advice. According to the Government program, Finland’s gambling system will be reformed and opened to competition with a license model no later than January 1, 2026.”

The Ministry of the Interior added that while online casinos, online slots, online sports betting, online bingo, and horse racing betting would fall under the upcoming licensing system, Veikkaus Oy would retain the exclusive right to lotteries, lottery games, physical slot machines, and casino games. 

The Government’s proposal is expected to be presented to Parliament in the 2025 spring session.