Finland has taken another formal step toward reshaping its gambling sector by adding license fees to the decree governing police service charges for 2026. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the updated decree reflects requirements under the new Gambling Act and introduces charges tied to exclusive licenses, standard gambling licenses, and authorizations linked to international cooperation. The changes outline how licensing will be handled during the transition period before the country’s competitive gambling market begins operating in mid-2027.

Under the revised decree, applications for gambling-related licenses can be submitted to the National Police Board starting in early March 2026. The decree itself will enter into force on 1 March 2026 and will remain valid through 31 December 2026, covering the initial licensing phase that precedes market opening.

Licensing fees and application framework

The Ministry of the Interior has set the price for both exclusive licenses and standard gambling licenses at EUR 29,000. A separate fee of EUR 1,120 will apply to any alteration made to an existing exclusive or gambling license. The same EUR 1,120 charge will also be required for applications seeking authorization for international cooperation when submitted by holders of an exclusive license or a gambling license.

In explaining the scope of the fees, the Ministry stated that “the new fees will be charged for an exclusive license, a gambling license and an authorization for international cooperation for the holder of an exclusive license or a gambling license.” These fees are included directly in the police services decree, linking licensing costs to the authority responsible for handling applications during the transition period.

The National Police Board will receive and process license applications and is expected to issue additional guidance on application procedures at a later date. While companies will be able to secure licenses during 2026, approval alone will not allow them to begin operating or marketing gambling services immediately.

Transition period before market entry

Licensed operators will only be permitted to start running and promoting gambling games once the new Gambling Act takes effect on 1 July 2027. This creates a clear gap between the administrative licensing process and the point at which commercial activity is allowed. Until that date, the National Police Board will continue to serve as the licensing authority under the new legal framework.

Regulatory responsibility will change after the transition period. From 1 July 2027 onward, the Finnish Supervisory Agency will assume both licensing and supervisory duties. The handover is intended to complete the restructuring of gambling oversight once the competitive market is fully launched.

During the interim phase, no operators other than Veikkaus Oy will be allowed to market or provide gambling services in Finland. Veikkaus will continue to operate under existing rules and remain under the supervision of the National Police Board until the end of June 2027.

End of monopoly and scope of reform

Finland finalized its gambling reform legislation in mid-January, when President Alexander Stubb signed the Gambling Act into law. The reform dismantles the long-standing monopoly model in several online gambling segments and introduces a licensing system aligned with other regulated European markets.

Under the new structure, online betting, online casino games, slot games, and real-money bingo will be opened to competition through licensed operators. At the same time, Veikkaus Oy will retain exclusive rights to lottery-style games, scratch cards, and land-based slot machines and casino operations.

The Ministry of the Interior has stated that the broader aim of the reform is to increase the proportion of gambling that takes place within the regulated system while strengthening player protection. The Gambling Act includes mandatory identification requirements, deposit limits, a centralized self-exclusion system, and restrictions on bonuses and credit-based gambling. Additional technical requirements will also apply, including a rule that by 2028 operators must rely solely on software supplied by licensed providers.

Together, the introduction of license fees and the staged transition of regulatory authority mark key milestones as Finland prepares to shift from a monopoly-based system to a licensed gambling market in 2027.