Finland is moving from Veikkaus's monopoly to a licensing system. Gambling licences can be applied for from 1 March 2026 and licensed play begins on 1 July 2027. A final list of casinos that have been granted a licence has not yet been published – you'll recognise a future licensed casino from the register of the Licensing and Supervisory Authority and from the licence number shown on the site.
Finland's new Gambling Act ends Veikkaus's exclusive right to casino and betting games. From now on, other operators can also apply for a Finnish gambling licence once they meet the conditions set out in the law. In practice this means that, for the first time, an officially licensed group of online casinos will emerge in Finland – but the list will only become clearer as the licensing process progresses. The full background and timeline of the whole change are set out separately in the new Gambling Act 2027 guide.
When do Finland's licensed casinos open?
Licensed gambling operations begin on 1 July 2027. Before that, things proceed in stages:
The timeline follows the law. The grant dates of individual licences and the final licence list will only be published as processing progresses – this page is updated as the information becomes clearer.
Which casinos will get a Finnish licence?
A final list of casinos that have been granted a licence does not yet exist. A licence can be applied for by operators that meet the conditions set out in the law. Rather than guessing names, it's worth looking at the criteria on which a licence is granted:
Responsible-gambling tools
Mandatory deposit and loss limits, self-exclusion and identification. Player protection is the core of the law.
Finnish taxation
A licensed operator pays gambling tax to Finland and operates under Finnish supervision.
Segregation of player funds
Players' money is kept separate from the operator's own funds.
Technical requirements
Audited games, reporting to the authority and a minimum level of information security.
Many of the current EU/EEA-licensed operators already meet a large part of these, so it's likely that some familiar brands will apply for a Finnish licence. Nothing has been confirmed, however – we won't present a licence list before the authority has published it.
How to recognise a Finnish licensed casino
Once licensing is in force, you can tell a licensed casino apart by a few clear signs:
What does licensing mean for the player?
Licensing brings the player stronger protection, clear taxation and domestic dispute resolution. It has one side, however, that surprises many:
Better player protection
Mandatory limits and oversight reduce the risk – playing is safer and more transparent.
No welcome bonuses
The law prohibits welcome and deposit bonuses as well as free spins for licensed operators. Affiliate marketing is also banned from 7/2027.
Taxation becomes clearer
The winnings of a Finnish-licensed casino are tax-free for the player – as is already the case at MGA- and EU/EEA-licensed casinos.
In other words: licensed Finnish casinos are safe, but they will no longer offer a welcome bonus. Bonuses will therefore still be offered by the EU/EEA-licensed casinos where Finns play right now.
Which casino is worth registering at before 2027?
Until July 2027, Finns mostly play at EU/EEA-licensed casinos, whose winnings are tax-free and which still offer welcome bonuses and free spins. If you want to take advantage of the bonuses for as long as they're available, it's worth choosing a stable MGA- or EU/EEA-licensed casino.
Read also the Helmi review and Helmi's 1,500 free spins offer, or compare all the options on the Finland's best online casinos 2026 list.
Frequently asked questions
Summary
Finland's gambling market is opening up to licensing: licence applications began on 1 March 2026 and licensed play starts on 1 July 2027. There is no final licence list yet, so the most reliable way to recognise a licensed casino is the regulator's public register and the licence number shown on the site. Licensed Finnish casinos bring stronger player protection but give up bonuses – which is why those who want to take advantage of welcome offers are doing so now at EU/EEA-licensed casinos. Always play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose.