What’s hot & new

notification image

How ‘very demure’ became a lifestyle movement and a legal fight

2 hours ago

notification image

"Unfortunately, you can not access Jaak Casino through CasinoWow website any longer."

1 day ago

notification image

North Korea calls for foreign partnership with new casino

1 day ago

notification image

New game added! See the review of Top Eagle here

2 days ago

notification image

Emmy awards 2024: A night of historic wins and memorable moments

2 days ago

notification image

New casino added! See the review of Ybets Casino casino here

2 days ago

notification image

"Unfortunately, Kaiser Slots casino can not be accessed through CasinoWow any longer."

3 days ago

notification image

Crypto's massive growth sparks an increase in young investors

3 days ago

notification image

New game added! See the review of Take-Off! here

3 days ago

notification image

The 17th Dream Drop Jackpot winner has been crowned

6 days ago

Discover loads of curious Gambling Guides!

What’s hot & new

notification image

How ‘very demure’ became a lifestyle movement and a legal fight

2 hours ago

notification image

"Unfortunately, you can not access Jaak Casino through CasinoWow website any longer."

1 day ago

notification image

North Korea calls for foreign partnership with new casino

1 day ago

notification image

New game added! See the review of Top Eagle here

2 days ago

notification image

Emmy awards 2024: A night of historic wins and memorable moments

2 days ago

notification image

New casino added! See the review of Ybets Casino casino here

2 days ago

notification image

"Unfortunately, Kaiser Slots casino can not be accessed through CasinoWow any longer."

3 days ago

notification image

Crypto's massive growth sparks an increase in young investors

3 days ago

notification image

New game added! See the review of Take-Off! here

3 days ago

notification image

The 17th Dream Drop Jackpot winner has been crowned

6 days ago

loader search icon
Popular pages
Our top casino picks for United States of America 🏆
BitStarz Casino logo
Let’s Lucky Casino logo
Wazamba Casino logo
Lucky 31 Casino logo
LV BET Casino logo
Lucky Dreams Casino logo

    The latest licensing update that could shake up the Finnish iGaming industry

    news thumbnail image

    The public seems to be divided yet excited in terms of the newly proposed Finnish iGaming laws.

    When it comes to regional restrictions and regulations, there’s always something interesting happening somewhere in the world.

    Finland is one of the regions subject to strict regulations and has very limited gaming options due to its gaming monopoly.

    With the upcoming changes, a new licensing system could open the market to private Finnish casino operators. Should the licensing procedure be implemented, it could provide players with a wider variety of games in Finnish casinos.

    New legislation and public feedback

    With the new gambling regulations proposed, the public has been given the opportunity to provide their personal feedback until 18 August 2024.

    The consultation period has now closed, and the collected feedback will be used to refine and finalise the law.

    Finnish public has its say

    The public has actively engaged in providing detailed feedback on the new suggested legislation. The primary themes of commentary and concerns were regarding problem gambling, tax and revenue, and the role Veikkaus would be playing.

    In terms of problem gambling, there seems to be a lot of concern regarding how the changes in the law could lead to an increase. Most respondents stated that it is vital to implement robust player protection measures.

    Mixed feelings on fees and oversight

    According to the responses, the residents are happy about the idea of a new regulatory body, but they also asked for clear guidelines and transparency regarding its operations.

    There were mixed feelings regarding Veikkaus and its continuance within the industry. While some support its monopoly being retained over certain gaming sectors, others have called for complete liberation.

    There were also opinions about the proposed 22% gross gaming revenue tax. Again, there were mixed feelings; some believed it was too high, and others thought it was appropriate.

    The majority had warm, welcoming opinions about the open licensing system. They stated that it would improve the quality of gaming services by leading to competition among operators and software providers, which in turn would benefit the players.

    Community groups air concerns

    As with many regulatory changes, not everyone in the country supports the liberalisation of the Finnish gambling market.

    Several organisations and groups are advocating against the government’s plans, as they see them as harmful to the Finnish people. These include social welfare organisations, religious groups, and community-focused groups.

    Of course, the state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus is also against it. They are primarily concerned about the potential loss in revenue, which is currently funding important social causes and public services.

    Licensing is a work in progress

    While much public feedback has been received, a final decision regarding the proposed legislation is yet to be made. The feedback is currently being reviewed and applied to refine and finalise the gaming regulations in Finland.

    Throughout this process, all stakeholders provide input to ensure that the final law balances liberalising the online gaming industry while making the protection of players and social welfare the main priorities.

    Once the new gaming laws are implemented, a licensing system for both online casinos and sportsbooks is planned to be implemented by 1 January 2026. This will give private companies the chance to enter a promising market that has been under the regulation of the state-operated Veikkaus until now.

    It will be interesting to see how the new liberalisation impact the gaming industry and the Finnish iGaming market as a whole.

    Published: August 23, 2024

    Anything incorrect or missing?

    Let us know
    Deni avatar image

    Article by Deni

    CasinoWow Contributor

    Hi, I’m Deni and I am here to ensure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions about online casinos and games and, of course, have fun while doing it. I do so through in-depth research and a keen eye for detail resulting in comprehensive reviews and engaging articles. Let’s explore the iGaming world together!

    Related content

    NEXT UP IN REGULATIONS

    THE LATEST

    Most popular

    news item
    North Korea calls for foreign partnership with new casino
    news item
    Crypto's massive growth sparks an increase in young investors
    news item
    The 17th Dream Drop Jackpot winner has been crowned
    news item
    Decoding popular colour schemes in online casinos and their purpose
    news item
    Jackpotz Mania continues at BitStarz Casino!
    banner image

    Popular

    Special Guides

    Features

    CasinoWow

    banner image

    Related content

    NEXT UP IN REGULATIONS

    THE LATEST

    compass icon

    Guides

    Online gambling guides
    press icon

    News

    Latest gambling stories
    questionmark icon

    Help

    Online gambling FAQs

    CasinoWow © 2024

    CasinoWow.com Cookies

    We use 🍪 cookies to improve your user experience. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

    Accept
    subscribe icon

    SUBSCRIBE for EXCLUSIVE offers!

    Be the first to get exclusive bonuses and WOW casino promotions! Get access to our new online casinos, top stories and special iGaming events for FREE.

    follow us icon

    Share this page across social platforms!

    facebook share icon Facebook
    x share icon Twitter
    instagram icon Instagram
    linkedin share icon Linkedin