As of 26 October, Finland's National Police Board had received 79 applications for online gambling licences and issued 12. No applications have been rejected so far, the agency said in response to a request.
Private operators will be able to work in Finland's online market from 1 July 2027. Until now, the country's gambling market has operated under a monopoly model. Applications are still being reviewed, so the number of licences will grow.
Some companies had already announced their licences themselves, including Wildz Group and HipposATG. Now the agency itself has confirmed the number of permits issued.
Veikkaus, the state-owned company that currently controls the market and also applied to operate in the new segment, is not on the list of licence holders. Its well-known brand and large customer base could give it an edge after the launch. However, Veikkaus will keep its monopoly on lotteries, scratch cards and slot machines in the land-based sector.
The agency did not give a timeline for reviewing the remaining applications. Operators and affiliates preparing to enter Finland should watch for updates to the list of licence holders.
