The National Police Board of Finland has officially confirmed that 12 companies have been granted licenses to operate in the country's emerging online gambling market, as reported through an information request from iGB. This marks a significant update, as several firms, including Wildz Group and HipposATG, had previously disclosed their licenses, but this is the first confirmation from the regulator itself regarding approvals in the eagerly awaited market.
Finland plans to liberalize its historically state-run monopoly on gambling, with the transition to allow private operators set to take effect on July 1, 2027. Currently, the licensing process is ongoing and overseen by the National Police Board. According to the Board, as of October 26, a total of 79 applications for gambling licenses have been received, with 12 granted and none rejected to date.
The newly licensed companies poised to launch online gaming operations when the market opens include:
– Hippos ATG Oy
– Sunflower Gaming Limited
– Granturo Finland Ltd (Wildz Group)
– Skill On Net Ltd
– SuomiVeto Oy
– Cloudberry Ent Limited
– SixthSpin Limited
– KuuFlip Limited
– RocketLily Ent Limited
– Nivei Ursi Limited
– YTBlue Limited
– Buccone Trading Limited
One notable organization missing from the list is Veikkaus, the existing state monopoly that also submitted an application to continue participating in the online gambling market once it opens. Veikkaus, which is expected to have a competitive edge due to its brand recognition and extensive customer database, will maintain its monopoly over lottery services, scratch cards, and land-based gaming machines in Finland. However, when it comes to online gambling, the company will face competition from private operators.
As Finland prepares to abolish its monopoly model—making it one of the last European nations to do so—there is growing excitement among operators eager to enter the market. Finland is noted for having one of the highest per-capita gambling rates globally, with the total estimated gross gaming revenue (GGR) projected at €1.9 billion in 2026, according to H2 Gambling Capital. Of this, approximately 81% is expected to come from online sources.
The Finnish market is recognized for its maturity, strong regulatory framework, and stable political support for gambling activities, which contrasts sharply with many other European markets currently grappling with tightening regulations and tax increases.
