Finland is in the middle of the biggest change to its gambling rules in decades. For many years Veikkaus, the state-owned company, has had the exclusive right to offer online casino games and betting to Finnish residents. A new Gambling Act (10/2026) ends that monopoly for online games from 1 July 2027 and introduces a licensing system. This guide explains what the law says today, what changes next, how to recognise a licensed operator, how winnings are taxed and where to get help if gambling stops being fun.
Is online gambling legal in Finland?
Yes, but only with an operator that has the right to offer games in Finland. Until 30 June 2027 that operator is Veikkaus. It runs the online casino, betting and lottery products that Finnish residents can legally use, and it is the only company allowed to market gambling in mainland Finland. Ã…land has its own system run by PAF.
Gambling with a company that has no Finnish right to operate is not a criminal offence for the player. The rules are aimed at the operators and at anyone who markets their games. Even so, playing at an unlicensed site means you are outside the Finnish system of player protection, complaint handling and supervision.
The age limit for all gambling in Finland is 18.
What does the new Gambling Act change?
The Gambling Act (10/2026) was signed by the President in January 2026. Part of it entered into force on 1 March 2026 so that companies could start applying for licences. The rest takes effect on 1 July 2027, which is when licensed operators other than Veikkaus can start offering games to Finnish players.
Licences will cover online casino games, online slot machines, fixed-odds and pool betting, virtual betting and online bingo. Land-based casinos, physical slot machines and lotteries stay with a state-controlled company. Suppliers of gambling software also need their own licence.
- 1 March 2026: licence applications open at the National Police Board
- Until 30 June 2027: Veikkaus keeps its exclusive right, and marketing by other operators remains prohibited
- 1 July 2027: the licensed market opens and the full Act applies
- After that date: offering or marketing gambling in Finland without a licence can lead to administrative fines and orders to remove content
Who regulates gambling in Finland?
The National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) supervises gambling today and handles licence applications under the new Act. The supervisory authority can impose administrative fines on companies, order unlawful online content to be removed and require payment service providers to block payments to operators that have no right to offer games in Finland. Penalties under the new law can reach 4 percent of a company's turnover, capped at 5 million euros.
How can you check that an operator is licensed?
Before 1 July 2027 the answer is simple: Veikkaus is the only online casino operator authorised in mainland Finland. After that date the licensing authority will publish the list of companies that hold a Finnish licence. Use that official list, not a review site or the operator's own claims.
A licensed operator must follow Finnish rules on age checks, player identification, deposit limits and marketing. If a site does not appear on the official list, it does not have permission to serve Finnish residents, whatever other licence it shows in its footer.
- Look up the operator in the official list published by the Finnish gambling authority.
- Check that the company name on the site matches the name in the register exactly.
- Confirm that the site requires strong identification and asks you to set loss or deposit limits before you play.
- Make sure the terms are available in Finnish or Swedish and explain how to make a complaint in Finland.
What player protection tools exist in Finland?
Veikkaus requires strong identification and lets you set daily and monthly loss limits, take a break or exclude yourself from its games. The new Gambling Act makes such tools mandatory for every licensed operator: players must set daily and monthly transfer limits before gambling, and self-exclusion must be possible both immediately and for longer periods.
The reform also plans a centralised self-exclusion system covering the whole licensed market, so that one request can block you at every licensed operator. Details are still being prepared, so check the authority's website for the current status. Self-exclusion at a licensed operator does not reach unlicensed sites, which is one more reason to stay within the regulated market.
What are the risks of unlicensed gambling sites?
An operator without a Finnish licence is not supervised by Finnish authorities. If a withdrawal is delayed, an account is closed or bonus terms are applied unfairly, you cannot turn to the Finnish regulator or the Finnish consumer authorities for help in the same way.
Payments can also fail. Finnish law allows payment blocking against operators that have no right to operate in Finland, so deposits or withdrawals may be stopped by the bank. In addition, unlicensed sites are not connected to Finnish self-exclusion and limit systems, which makes it harder to keep control of your play.
Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in Finland?
Winnings from gambling organised legally in Finland or in another EU or EEA country are generally tax-free for the player. Winnings from games organised outside the EU and EEA are usually taxable as capital income.
Tax rules depend on where the game is organised and on your own situation, so check the current guidance from the Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) if you are unsure.
Where can you get help with gambling problems in Finland?
Peluuri is the national helpline for gambling problems. It is free, anonymous and also helps family members and friends. You can call 0800 100 101 or use the chat at peluuri.fi. Opening hours can change, so check the website before you call.
Myths vs facts
- Myth: Online gambling is banned in Finland.
- Fact: It is legal with an authorised operator. Today that is Veikkaus, and from 1 July 2027 other companies with a Finnish licence can also offer games.
- Myth: The monopoly has already ended.
- Fact: Licence applications opened in March 2026, but the licensed market only starts on 1 July 2027. Until then Veikkaus keeps its exclusive right.
- Myth: A Malta or Curaçao licence means a site is legal in Finland.
- Fact: Only a right to operate granted under Finnish law counts. A foreign licence does not authorise a company to serve or market to Finnish residents.
- Myth: All gambling winnings are tax-free in Finland.
- Fact: Winnings from games organised in the EU or EEA are generally tax-free, but winnings from games organised outside the EEA are usually taxable as capital income.
Before you claim
- Operator is on the official Finnish list of authorised operators
- Company name on the site matches the register
- Strong identification is required
- Daily and monthly limits are set before playing
- Self-exclusion option is easy to find
- Terms and complaint process are available in Finnish or Swedish
- You know where the game is organised for tax purposes
- Peluuri number 0800 100 101 saved in case you need it