Finland iGaming License Applications Hit 50 Ahead of 2027 Market Launch

• Finland set to follow Sweden and Denmark in opening a regulated igaming market on July 1, 2027
• Private operators will compete with Veikkaus, the government-owned igaming operator
• Majority of applicants so far are foreign companies, according to Finland’s gambling regulator

Fifty igaming operators have submitted B2C license applications for the soon-to-launch regulated market in Finland, according to data released by the country’s National Police Board.

Finnish Market Goes Live in 2027

Finland’s newly regulated market is scheduled to go live July 1, 2027. Private operators there will be competing with the state-owned operator Veikkaus.

The application window for operators opened March 1, 2026. Operators looking to enter the Finnish market pay a USD $33,500 application processing fee.

“The reliability and suitability of the applicants will be evaluated on the basis of documents, such as register extracts, certificates and various reports, submitted by the applicant,” said Juha Katainen, Senior Adviser at the National Police Board.

Majority of Applicants Are Foreign Companies

There’s no deadline for submitting applications. However the National Police Board is reminding companies that it takes around six months to process an application.

In Finland, the National Police Board, while overseeing and directing policing in the country, also serves as Finland’s primary gambling regulator and enforcement authority.

“The complexity of processing and evaluating applications is affected by the fact that the majority of applicants are foreign,” added Katainen.

Market Channelization Is the Big Priority

The high level of igaming applicants is a sign of confidence about what the new market there will look like once it goes live. Under the new Gambling Act, Finland will be creating a new regulatory structure focusing on licensing, supervision, responsible gambling, and channelling grey market operators and offshore websites into the regulated space, to compete with Veikkaus.

Finland, joining Sweden and Denmark in regulating the industry, will charge licensed operators a 22% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR).

Finland has a population of 5.6 million, with a mature betting culture around sports like soccer, hockey and Formular 1 racing.

According to Finnplay, projected GGR for the regulated market in 2027 will hit USD $1.37 billion, rising to USD $1.7 billion by 2029.