TLDR Finland’s iGaming market officially opens to international competition on July 1, 2027, ending the state gambling monopoly State operator Veikkaus will keep exclusive control over national lottery draws and physical slot machines Veikkaus cut 26 jobs and created 22 new roles to prepare for the competitive market The company reported €936 million in sales and €431.6 million in operating profit last year Government officials are discussing a possible future privatization of Veikkaus after market liberalization
Finland is about to make one of the biggest changes to its gambling industry in the country’s history. The state-run monopoly on online gambling is coming to an end. Starting July 1, 2027, international betting companies will be allowed to operate legally in Finland for the first time.
Regulators are already accepting license applications from global operators looking to enter the market. This marks a complete shift away from the system that has been in place for decades.
Until now, Veikkaus has been the only company allowed to offer gambling services in Finland. The state-owned operator has had full control over online and offline betting across the country.
Under the new rules, Veikkaus will lose its grip on the online casino and sports betting sectors. However, it will keep exclusive rights to run the national Lotto and Eurojackpot draws. It will also remain the sole operator of physical slot machines across Finland.
Veikkaus Restructures Ahead of New Competition
Veikkaus CEO Olli Sarekoski has said the company is ready for the change. He described international competition as a way to fight back against unregulated offshore platforms that have been taking market share.
The company has been making internal changes to prepare. Late last year, Veikkaus entered negotiations with 75 employees. The process ended with 26 positions being cut across three business units.