Finland released a draft of its new gambling regulations, but it has sparked controversy

A public consultation was opened and industry stakeholders submitted their responses to the rules in August, with various submissions flagging what they considered to be quite restrictive measures.  

The legislation is in the final stages of being drafted and will be sent off to the European Commission (EC) before the end of the year for approval, a spokesperson for the ministry of the interior confirmed to iGB. Kuismanen expects final modifications to the law will be made in the next four weeks and then sent off to the EC. 

Final decisions on the law will be made shortly

However, a cross-party political committee will first make final decisions on two key points this week, including whether to bring forward the market launch date from January 2027 and whether to allow commercial operators to offer horseracing betting, or let the monopoly maintain its exclusivity over the vertical.  

“There are only two issues left where the consensus has not been reached,” says Kuismanen. “The opening date and whether horseracing betting be offered under the monopoly licence, or included in the open licence available to any operator in the online market. 

“There is a chance that operators can go live in the market earlier than January 2027,” he adds.  

Local industry consultant Jari Vähänen previously told iGB the horseracing industry had lobbied heavily to move to the licence-based system.

In July, the government said it aimed to present the final draft to parliament in February 2025 and launch the market fully in January 2027. With the process moving quicker than expected, the launch could be brought forward.  

“We will likely have the law approved [by parliament] before midsummer (June 2025),” Kuismanen says.  

Kuismanen “happy” with the legislation’s direction

The trade body CEO had previously called out the government for taking “reckless risks” with restrictive gambling regulatory framework, particularly its banning of affiliate, or third party, marketing.  

But Kuismanen says the industry is happy with the discussions it has since had with the government and some modifications have been made to Finland’s gambling regulation.  

“After the consultation round the law has taken a more liberal or practical direction,” Kuismanen says.  

Kuismanen says the government has held open and productive sessions with industry stakeholders to understand their needs and where the rules should be adapted.  

“We have to give credit to the civil servants and government as they have structured the process to legislation very well and it has proceeded in a very constructive manner.” 

A spokesperson for Finland’s ministry of the interior, however, declined to comment on the content of these discussions, noting: “In the follow-up preparation after the consultation round, the feedback received from all stakeholders has been assessed. During preparations, further discussions have been held with some representatives of the gambling industry, for example, on the implementation of technical supervision in another countries.”