Foreign operators dominate Finland’s first wave of gambling licence applications

Finland’s National Police Board has received around 50 applications for gambling operating licences, with the majority coming from foreign companies, according to a statement released Monday.

The application window opened in March, and the police estimate processing will take roughly six months. Each application carries a €29,000 fee.

Juha Katainen, a senior inspector with the police board’s gambling administration, said applicants are evaluated based on submitted documents, including registry extracts, certificates, and financial disclosures. “Reliability and suitability are assessed through the materials provided by the applicant,” he stated.

Finland’s gambling market will open to licensed operators in July 2027, ending Veikkaus’s monopoly on betting, online slots, and casino games. The reform aims to channel gambling into a regulated, taxed system and bring offshore operators under Finnish oversight.