Finland Approves First 12 Online Gambling Licences
Finland's National Police Board had approved 12 online gambling licences by 26 October 2026, from 79 applications and with no rejections so far. The licensed market opens to private operators on 1 July 2027.
Quick Take
- By 26 October the National Police Board had approved 12 licences from 79 applications and had not rejected any (Gambling.com, iGamingToday).
- State-owned Veikkaus has applied but is not among the confirmed holders. It keeps lotteries and land-based gaming machines.
- The market opens to licensed private operators on 1 July 2027. Until then Veikkaus remains the only licensed operator.
- Some later headlines speak of 18 licences. We could not open those reports to see the date and basis, so we keep the board's figure of 12 as of 26 October.
The Numbers
According to figures the National Police Board gave as of 26 October 2026, 12 licences have been approved from 79 applications, and no application has been rejected so far (Gambling.com; iGamingToday). Veikkaus, the state-owned company, has applied but is not among the confirmed holders.
When the Market Opens
Licensed private operators can start on 1 July 2027. Until then Veikkaus is the only operator licensed to offer online gambling in Finland, and foreign online casinos that accept Finnish players do so without a Finnish licence. For the full picture, with tax and rules, see our Finland guide.
A Count That Is Still Moving
The Board’s figure was 12 as of 26 October. Headlines from Gaming Intelligence, SiGMA and iGaming Express since then mention 18 licences. We could not open those reports in full, so we do not know the date or basis of that number. We will update this page when we can confirm it.
What It Means for Players
Nothing changes for players yet: a licence now does not mean a site is open to Finnish players before 1 July 2027. When the market opens, the licence register will be the place to check whether a site is authorised. See how to check a casino licence.
📌 In our view: early approvals tell us which companies are preparing, not which sites will be live. Treat any “Finland licence” claim before July 2027 with care and check the register. This is information, not legal advice.
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How many online gambling licences has Finland approved?
12 as of 26 October 2026, according to the National Police Board's figures reported by Gambling.com and iGamingToday. Later headlines mention 18, which we have not been able to confirm.
When does Finland's licensed market open?
On 1 July 2027.
Is Veikkaus among the licence holders?
Not among the 12 confirmed holders. It has applied and keeps lotteries and land-based gaming machines.
Can Finnish players use a licensed private operator now?
Not yet. Until 1 July 2027 Veikkaus is the only licensed operator.
Sources
↗ Gambling.com — Finland grants 12 online gambling licences, none rejected ↗ iGamingToday — Finland approves first 12 gambling licences ahead of summer 2027 launch ↗ Gaming Intelligence — Finland's National Police Board confirms first 18 iGaming licensees (headline only)18+ only. Gambling laws differ by country and change quickly — check the rules where you live. If gambling stops being fun, BeGambleAware and GamCare offer free, confidential support.