Finland Gambling License: How to Enter the Market in 2027
March 26, 2026
by Julie Courte
Finland’s gambling market has just opened to private operators for the first time in decades, and it is one of the most openings we have seen in Europe in a long time. — partly because Finland’s online gambling average revenue per user (ARPU) is estimated at approximately $1,150 per year, which is roughly 1.5 to 3 times higher than most European markets and places Finland among the top markets worldwide in terms of player value. If you are an operator looking to enter Finland, or simply wondering what this means for your existing setup, this article is for you. Entering this market takes two things working in parallel: a Finnish license and the right company structure to support it — and we can help you with both.
We have been active in the iGaming industry for over 20 years, and our Malta office has been at the heart of the industry for more than a decade. Over the years, we have helped operators navigate new market openings across Europe, and Finland is no different. We have already established connections with experienced Finnish license application partners, and we are well-positioned to guide you through Finland’s market opening — connecting you to experienced Finnish license application partners and setting up the Malta company structure that will underpin your entire operation. Read on for what you need to know.
Finland Gambling License — What Has Changed
From Monopoly to Licensed Market
For decades, Finland’s gambling landscape was entirely controlled by Veikkaus, the state-owned operator, which held exclusive rights over online casino games, sports betting, lotteries, and physical slot machines. Finland is one of the last EU member states to open its online gambling market to private operators, making this one of the most anticipated regulatory shifts in recent European iGaming history. What makes the Finnish reform particularly interesting is that Veikkaus itself was one of the voices calling for change. The operator had been watching a growing share of Finnish players migrate toward unregulated international sites and recognized that the monopoly model was no longer working in anyone’s interest. According to H2 Gambling Capital, Finland currently has an offshore gambling market of approximately €900 million, with only around 22% of iGaming taking place within the regulated system — and the aim of the reform is to bring that activity back into a domestically licensed and supervised framework. Finland’s Parliament passed the new Gambling Act in December 2025, opening online casino games, fixed-odds betting, online slots, and real-money bingo to licensed private operators, while Veikkaus retains exclusivity over lotteries, scratch cards, and land-based gaming.
This is one of the most significant regulatory shifts in European iGaming in years, and the market is already responding. As of the date of this article, 24 operators have already submitted applications for a Finnish gambling license, with many more expected to do so ahead of the July 2027 go-live date.
Key Dates You Need to Know
The timeline is already in motion, and there is no time to waste. License applications opened on 1 March 2026, and must be submitted in Finnish or Swedish. The authority’s target processing time is 3 to 6 months, subject to the completeness of the submission.
Operators obtaining the Finnish license before the ‘go live’ date may begin offering and marketing services in Finland from 1 July 2027.
Furthermore, from 1 July 2028, all licensed operators must use gambling software from suppliers holding a Finnish B2B software license. This means B2B suppliers face their own parallel licensing process, with applications opening from 1 July 2027.
Given the 3 to 6 month processing time and the July 2027 go-live date, operators who delay risk missing the opening of the market entirely— so the sooner you start preparing your application, the better positioned you will be.
What a Finland Gambling License Requires
Fit-and-Proper Criteria
Finland’s licensing framework follows standards familiar to operators already active in regulated European markets. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate strong internal controls, anti-money laundering (AML) programs, solid governance structures, and detailed plans for player protection, marketing, and regulatory reporting.
Both European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EEA companies may apply, although non-EEA applicants must appoint a representative based in the EEA. Licenses are granted for a maximum of five years and are subject to regular annual review.
It is important to note that further technical and operational requirements are still being finalized by the authorities — you can follow updates on the National Police Board’s official guidance page — so keeping some flexibility in your compliance planning is essential at this stage.
Past compliance history also plays a role. Any operator that has received a prohibition decision or penalty for unlicensed gambling activity in the three years prior to application will face rejection, and operating without a local license after the market goes live carries real consequences, including marketing bans and potential damage to fit-and-proper assessments across other jurisdictions.
Costs and Fees
The financial structure of the Finland gambling license is as follows:
- Application fee: €29,000 per application, non-refundable regardless of outcome
- Amendment fee: €1,120 for license amendments and international cooperation authorizations
- Annual supervisory fee: Tiered according to gross gaming revenue (GGR), ranging from approximately €4,000 to €434,000
- GGR tax: 22% on all gross gaming revenue
All license-related fees are deductible as business expenses for corporate income tax purposes.
Player Protection Requirements
Finland places a strong emphasis on responsible gambling, and operators should factor this into their compliance frameworks accordingly from the outset. The Gambling Act requires mandatory age verification for all players (18+), secure player identification, integration with a centralized self-exclusion register, continuous monitoring for excessive or harmful play, and deposit limits set by each player per operator.
In January 2026, Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health published a first draft recommendation on operators’ duty of care and player protection obligations. While not yet legally binding, these recommendations are intended to guide both license holders and the supervisory authority going forward — so they are worth reading carefully now
The draft outlines a preventive approach to player protection, with key elements including early intervention measures based on player behavior indicators, differentiated protection for players aged 18 to 24, a centralized duty-of-care monitoring and reporting framework, and a preference for manual or indicator-based intervention methods alongside automated systems.
These recommendations are not final. However, they signal the direction of supervisory expectations in Finland, and building compliance frameworks with this in mind from the start will save time and effort down the line.
Your MGA License Alone Will Not Get You Into Finland
This is the point that matters most for operators currently targeting Finnish players under a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license.
Finland has made it clear that a gambling license issued in another EU country does not automatically grant the right to operate in Finland. Since the law was enforced in December, operators must already comply with its requirements. Operators need to hold a direct Finnish license to legally offer and market services to Finnish players — regardless of where their current license was issued.
In practical terms, this means that:
- If you were reaching Finnish players prior to the law’s enactment through an MGA or other international license, you should now obtain a Finnish license to continue doing so legally after July 2027.
- If you still are currently targeting Finnish players, you are doing so without legal authorization. Continuing without one carries real risk: marketing bans imposed by the National Police Board, enforcement action, and potential complications in future license applications in Finland and elsewhere.
The good news is that the application window is open now, and there is still time to prepare a strong application before the market opens. Acting early also gives you more flexibility to respond to any additional requirements the authorities may publish in the coming months.
The Smart Move: A Finnish License Backed by a Malta Company
Why Malta Remains Your Strongest Operational Base
Obtaining a Finnish license does not mean you need to move your entire operation to Finland. For most international operators, the strongest strategic structure is a Malta-based company that holds a Finnish license — rather than setting up a Finnish company. Here is why.
| Factor | Malta company + Finnish license | Finnish company + Finnish license |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | ~5% effective rate | 20% |
| GGR tax | 22% | 22% |
| Staff costs | Lower | Significantly higher |
| iGaming ecosystem | Extensive | Limited |
| Regulatory credibility | High — EU-regulated, MGA-recognized | Developing |
| Setup cost | Medium | High |
Malta’s headline corporate tax rate is 35%, but through Malta’s full imputation system, foreign-owned companies structured correctly can claim back the majority of tax paid at company level, bringing the effective rate to approximately 5%. Finland’s corporate income tax rate, by contrast, is a flat 20% — paid in full by any company tax-resident in Finland.
Beyond taxation, Malta offers iGaming operators a depth of infrastructure that Finland, as a newly opened market, cannot yet match. A dense ecosystem of payment providers, legal and compliance specialists, and iGaming-experienced talent has built up in Malta over more than two decades. Banking and payment provider relationships are well-established, and the regulatory environment is stable, predictable, and internationally respected.
The MGA Recognition Notice Structure
For operators that plan to hold a Finnish license through a Malta-based company but do not yet have an MGA license, the path forward is clear. Once a Finnish license is obtained, the Malta company will need to apply to the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) for a Recognition Notice. This allows the company to operate in or from Malta with the same rights as a fully MGA-licensed entity — without requiring a separate full MGA application. It is however important to note that the operator’s obligations remain with the Finnish license Authority and they are limited to the scope of this license.
This structure is precisely the model that the industry is already moving toward. According to the latest MGA annual report, the authority issued 62 Recognition Notice certificates in its most recent reporting period, up 36 from the prior year, reflecting the growing number of operators choosing to maintain a Malta base while complying with local licensing requirements across individual European markets.
We have also been tracking this trend closely in the Finnish market specifically. Based on our own market intelligence, of the 24 operators that had applied for a Finnish gambling license as of the date of this article, 21 were doing so through a Malta-based company — which speaks for itself on the structure the industry considers most practical.
For this type of set-ups and more, our team in Malta can guide you through the process.
We Connect You to the Right Partners — and Handle the Rest
Finnish License Application Partners
Navigating the Finnish application process is not straightforward, particularly for operators without in-house Finnish-language legal capability. Applications must be submitted in Finnish or Swedish, and the documentation requirements — covering AML programs, governance structures, player protection plans, technical integrations, and reporting systems — are detailed and demanding.
We have established relationships with experienced partners who specialize in Finnish license applications and can guide you through the process from start to finish, making sure nothing gets missed and your application is as strong as it can be. This means you do not have to build those relationships from scratch or figure out the process on your own — we handle the connections and coordinate on your behalf.
Malta Company Setup and Ongoing Compliance
Alongside your Finnish application, we handle everything on the Malta side. Since setting up our Malta, we have built deep expertise in MGA licensing and recognition notices, company incorporation, corporate administration, key function services, and regulatory compliance for iGaming operators.
Whether you need to set up a new Malta company, restructure an existing one ahead of the Finnish market opening, or work through the MGA Recognition Notice process, our team will manage the entire process and keep you informed at every step, without it becoming a distraction from running your business.
For a full overview of how we can support you across jurisdictions, have a look at our iGaming license services page, or get in touch with us directly — we are always happy to have a conversation about what makes sense for your specific situation.
The Time to Act Is Now
The application window is live and the July 2027 deadline is closer than it appears. If you would like to discuss your Finland market entry strategy, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Malta team.
Contact our Malta team today to discuss your Finland market entry strategy. Get in touch
Written by Julie Courte
