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Finland Confirms Historic Shift to Online Gambling License System by 2027

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Helsinki-based industry expert Bonusetu.com analyzes the new government proposal, which includes a 22% GGR tax, a national self-exclusion register, and the end of the online monopoly for casino and betting.

HELSINKI, Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bonusetu.com, a Helsinki-based company specializing in the comparison and review of online casinos, today analyzes the Finnish government’s landmark legislative proposal (HE 16/2025 vp). The proposal will dismantle the current online gambling monopoly and introduce a partial licensing system, a move Bonusetu.com sees as a critical step toward enhancing player safety and modernizing the market.

The government’s proposal officially acknowledges that the current monopoly system has not succeeded in its objectives, noting that the monopoly’s market share in digital gambling is near 50%. This means a large portion of play already occurs outside the state-regulated system.

The reform’s primary stated goals are to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm and to improve the channeling rate by bringing all operators into a single, strictly supervised Finnish framework.

“As a Helsinki-based company with over a decade of industry expertise, we have advocated for this change for years,” said Tommi Korhonen of Bonusetu.com. “A well-regulated license system is the only proven way to protect all players, ensure operator accountability, and create a fair and transparent market. The government’s proposal shows a serious commitment to fixing a system that was no longer serving the best interests of Finnish players.”

Key Highlights of the Finnish Licensing Proposal (HE 16/2025 vp):

The new legislation outlines a clear timeline and structure for the new market:

  • Go-Live Date: The new licensed market is intended to launch on January 1, 2027.
  • Application Process: The license application process.
  • Scope of Licenses: The new license system will cover online casino games and online betting. Veikkaus Oy’s exclusive activities, such as the national lottery and physical slot machines, will be legally separated into a different entity within the same group.
  • License Duration: Gambling licenses will be issued for a maximum of five years at a time.

A New Framework for Player Protection

A cornerstone of the new legislation is a strong, multi-layered focus on responsible gambling and player safety.

Key player protection measures in the proposal include:

  • National Self-Exclusion Register: A centralized system will be established, allowing a player to self-exclude from all licensed gambling services in Finland with a single request.
  • Mandatory Identification: All players must be registered with a player account and be strictly verified by identity and place of residence.
  • Strict Marketing Rules: Marketing will be permitted to channel players to the legal offering but must be “moderate and responsible”. The law will detail prohibited marketing methods and ban direct marketing without a person’s explicit consent.

Financial and Structural Changes

The proposal also details the new tax structure and enforcement model, creating strong incentives for both players and operators to join the regulated system.

  • New Tax Rate: A uniform lottery tax will be set at 22% of GGR for all licensed operators.
  • Incentive for Players: In a critical move to boost channeling, winnings from unlicensed gambling sites will become taxable income for the player.
  • B2B Licensing: The market will also require a software license for game suppliers. Licensed operators will be permitted to only use software from other licensed suppliers.
  • New Supervisory Authority: A new, powerful supervisory authority will be established, funded by licensee-paid supervision fees. It will have robust enforcement powers, including issuing fines, revoking licenses, and ordering the removal of illegal online content.

“We look forward to being a constructive partner in this new, regulated environment and continuing our mission to provide Finns with the safest and most reliable information on the market,” Korhonen concluded.

About Bonusetu.com

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Helsinki, Bonusetu.com is a leading Finnish company specializing in the review and comparison of online casinos. With a team of industry veterans boasting over 100 years of combined experience, our mission is to provide reliable, up-to-date, and transparent information to help Finnish players make safe and informed choices in the digital gaming environment.

For more information, please visit https://www.bonusetu.com.

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Contact:

Tommi Korhonen, Veteran of the Finnish Casino industry and acting CEO of Bonusetu. [email protected]

The original Finnish government proposal, Hallituksen esitys HE 16/2025 vp, is available on the Finnish Parliament’s website.

CONTACT: [email protected]

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Finland Sets Casino Gambling Risk Limits at 2% of Income, 4 Days, 2 Game Types

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Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has launched a new set of gambling risk limits built around a single rule: no more than 2% of monthly net income, 4 gambling days per month and 2 recurring game types. Bonusetu.com examines the new framework and why its real-world success depends on the bank ID identification already standard in the country’s registration-free casinos.

The “2-4-2” Rule and the Player’s Credit Line

THL packaged the new limits as a player’s credit line (pelaajan luottorivi), a memorable “2-4-2” mnemonic released alongside a self-assessment gambling test (rahapelitesti) that lets a player gauge their own relationship with gambling. The thresholds are deliberately simple: keep monthly spend under 2% of net income, gamble on no more than 4 days a month, and stick to no more than 2 recurring game types. The guidance lands against a backdrop where 70% of Finns reported gambling in the past 12 months.

The numbers are not arbitrary. The framework adapts Canada’s Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines, reworked for Finnish conditions between 2022 and 2024. Where Canada anchors its limit to 1% of gross household income, THL chose 2% of net personal income to better match how Finnish households actually think about money.

According to the THL’s assessment, the introduction of the licensing system will shift the focus of the gambling system from preventing and reducing harms to emphasising gambling revenue; for this reason, they felt it was best to launch the 2-4-2 rule right now.

“A risk limit only works if the casino knows exactly who is sitting behind the screen. THL hands players the 2-4-2 rule, but the rule has no teeth unless the operator can verify identity, age, and play history in real time. Bank ID does that at the door. Registration-free does not mean anonymous, it means the player is identified before the first euro is staked, not after,” said Tommi Korhonen, acting CEO of Bonusetu.com.

Why a Limit Needs to Know the Player

A spending cap is only as strong as a casino’s ability to recognise who is actually playing. That recognition runs on strong identification (vahva tunnistautuminen) through bank credentials, the technology that lets a player log in with Nordea, OP or S-Pankki details instead of filling out a signup form. The “no registration” label describes the missing form, not a missing identity check.

Verified age: Bank ID confirms a player is over 18 before the first spin, closing a gap that form-based signups leave open to minors.

Recognised identity: One verified identity per player turns play-history limits like 2-4-2 into something a system can enforce, not just a slogan a player is asked to remember.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Helsinki, Bonusetu.com is a leading Finnish comparison platform for online casinos.

The post Finland Sets Casino Gambling Risk Limits at 2% of Income, 4 Days, 2 Game Types appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Veikkaus rolls out OpenBet’s Neccton responsible gambling platform ahead of 2027 reform

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Veikkaus will deploy the latest version of OpenBet’s Neccton AI-enhanced responsible gambling platform across its digital and retail channels, the companies said on 16 June 2026. The rollout comes as Finland’s newly approved Gambling Act increases operator obligations to spot and address risky gambling behaviour early, including active intervention where risk indicators emerge.

OpenBet said the Neccton platform is designed to identify potentially risky gambling behaviour in real time, generate automated alerts, and support tailored player interventions. The system summarises behavioural data, risk markers and historical context in plain language, and provides AI-assisted explanations intended to support compliance teams while maintaining human oversight.

Susanna Saikkonen, Vice President for Sustainability at Veikkaus, said: “Veikkaus’ individual gambling safety net model is based on identifying risky gambling as early as possible and offering players both support and concrete limitations. The Neccton platform provides us with an ISO-certified, extensively security tested and scientifically validated tool that strengthens our ability to identify risk and support our customers in gambling responsibly.”

Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director of Neccton at OpenBet, said: “In today’s regulatory environment, operators must demonstrate how they actively prevent gambling-related harm. The latest version of the Neccton platform enables real-time, data-driven intervention and measurable duty of care. We are proud to expand our partnership with Veikkaus to further strengthen its responsible gambling framework.”

The Neccton deployment extends Veikkaus’ existing relationship with OpenBet. OpenBet has been powering Veikkaus’ next-generation sportsbook platform and providing Managed Trading Services across digital and retail channels since May 2025, according to the companies. Veikkaus is preparing for Finland’s expected market liberalisation in 2027.

The post Veikkaus rolls out OpenBet’s Neccton responsible gambling platform ahead of 2027 reform appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance Updates

Finland consults on online gambling rules with slot stake caps and autoplay ban

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Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has published a draft regulation for public consultation that would set detailed product-level requirements for gambling offered by holders of Finnish gambling licences. The regulation is proposed to enter into force on 1 July 2027, as Finland prepares for its new licensing regime.

The draft introduces maximum stakes across electronic casino game categories. Electronic slot machine games and electronic bingo would be capped at EUR 20 per round, with higher limits proposed for certain electronic table games. Online poker would be subject to a maximum initial bet of EUR 1,000 per game. Where a combination game spans multiple categories, the explanatory memorandum says the applicable maximum stake would be determined by reference to the game types included in that combination.

A lower set of stake limits would apply to players under 25. For this group, the maximum stake for electronic slot machine games and electronic bingo would be EUR 10 per round, with reduced caps also proposed across several table game categories.

The draft also regulates tournament entry fees and jackpot mechanics. Table game tournaments (excluding player-versus-player poker) would be capped at EUR 1,000, player-versus-player poker tournaments at EUR 5,000, and electronic slot machine tournaments at EUR 500. It expressly permits surprise-type jackpots and winning-combination jackpots, including fixed, odds-based and progressive jackpots.

For electronic slot machine games, the proposal adds game design and player protection requirements that would effectively prohibit autoplay. Players must choose their own stake and start each round themselves, and operators may not offer or technically enable simultaneous play of two or more electronic slot machine games. Each round must last at least 2.5 seconds and players must not be allowed to shorten the draw time before the result is displayed. The draft also restricts presentation features that could imply a win is likely in future rounds or misrepresent losses, requires disclosure that in electronic games of chance player choices do not affect the draw outcome, and mandates on-screen playing-time reminders every 15 minutes with a continue-or-logout choice (with an exception for electronic casino games where players play against each other).

The consultation is open to anyone wishing to comment, with submissions due by 5 August. The regulation remains in draft form and may change before adoption.

The post Finland consults on online gambling rules with slot stake caps and autoplay ban appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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