The National Police Board of Finland has confirmed that twelve companies have received licenses to operate within the country’s forthcoming online gambling market. This announcement comes via an information request made by iGB, marking the first official acknowledgment from the regulator regarding license approvals in this highly anticipated market launch.
As Finland transitions from a state monopoly to a liberalized online gambling framework, private operators will officially enter the market on July 1, 2027. The licensing process, managed by the National Police Board, is currently ongoing.
As of October 26, the National Police Board has reported that a total of 79 gambling license applications have been submitted. Out of these, 12 licenses have been granted, and notably, none have been rejected.
The companies now approved to launch online gaming activities 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
Significantly absent from this list is Veikkaus, the existing state monopoly that has applied to remain competitive in the online gaming landscape post-liberalization. Veikkaus is expected to maintain an edge when the market opens, bolstered by strong brand recognition and a vast existing customer database. Although it will exert its monopoly over lotteries, scratchcards, and land-based gaming machines, online gambling will now face competition from private entities.
The impending market shift has generated considerable excitement among operators, particularly as Finland moves to eliminate its monopoly model, becoming one of the last European nations to do so. With one of the highest gambling rates per capita globally, Finland's estimated gross gaming revenue (GGR) was around €1.9 billion in 2026, with approximately 81% of that coming from online sources. The regulatory environment in Finland is perceived as mature, with a political consensus that supports gambling—contrasting sharply with the tightening regulatory landscapes and tax increases currently seen in various other European markets.
