Compliance Updates
Navigating Legal Frontiers: Nordic Legal’s Vision for the Finnish Gambling Market
The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 brought together top experts across the iGaming and tech landscape, and Nordic Legal stood out as the event’s Scandinavian Legal Expertise Sponsor. A renowned legal advisory firm in the Nordic region, Nordic Legal continues to shape the future of gambling legislation and compliance in Europe.
In this post-event interview, we caught up with Pekka Ilmivalta, Head of the Finnish Office at Nordic Legal, to dive deeper into the firm’s insights on the upcoming Finnish gambling reform, the legal challenges it poses, and the opportunities it presents for operators preparing to enter the market.
Finland is preparing to launch its regulated gambling sector in January 2026. As an expert with over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, how do you view its draft legislation and the current state of the Finnish gambling market?
Finns are used to gambling online, and the size of the market is close to 2 billion euros in GGR. As the market share of the national monopoly operator, Veikkaus, has declined to around 50 percent, nearly half of the gambling spending already takes place outside the Finnish regulation. Therefore, the gambling legislation reform is really needed.
The Government Proposal now being dealt with in the Finnish Parliament is generally a comprehensive and a good package. As the political parties are quite unanimous about the need for the reform, I expect the parliamentary discussion to concentrate on the balance between responsibility measures and the features making the market interesting enough for the operators to enter the regulated market. Especially marketing, use of affiliates and bonusing will, and should, be discussed.
I believe that the Parliament will approve the new legislation early next autumn and that the B2C license application process will be able to begin already in January next year.
The Finnish legislative review council has raised concerns about potential increases in gambling harms under the new regulatory framework. What measures do you believe are necessary to mitigate these risks, and how could Finland balance market liberalization with responsible gambling practices?
Personally, I think that gambling harms must be taken seriously. However, as almost half of the Finnish gambling now happens outside the regulated market, I am convinced that succeeding in channelization is a crucial starting point to really mitigate gambling harms. Therefore, attractiveness of the market and measures against the black market are extremely important. Furthermore, self-exclusion and responsible gambling tools are, of course, needed for the players. Generally, I believe that AI assisted monitoring could and will have an important role in preventing harmful gambling in the future. To really work, responsible gambling tools need to be both pragmatic and relevant for each individual player.
Considering Finland’s upcoming gambling reform, what legal and operational challenges should gambling operators be prepared for, particularly regarding compliance and player protection? Which key trends do you see shaping the market’s future?
As it seems now that affiliates and welcome bonuses will be banned, operators will have to find other means to build their brand and acquire customers. Even though traditional marketing and sponsoring are widely acceptable, I would expect to see innovative solutions to stand out from the probable marketing avalanche during the first months after the market opening. Perhaps new kinds of sponsorships or retail activities? Or even enhanced player protection measures to gain a competitive edge?
Overall, I would advise operators to start their market entry preparations early enough. The licensing procedure could take several (6 to 9) months. Also, adjusting to the local technical and player protection requirements might not happen overnight.
What insights could help Finland create a balanced and effective gambling market?
I believe that the new legislation will provide a good enough framework for a functional gambling market. However, based on experiences from Sweden and Denmark, I would point out two practical aspects crucial to making the new legislation effective: First, there needs to be collaboration between licensed operators and the new regulator. Dialogue and a mutual will to find solutions should be the common mindset. Secondly, the regulator hopefully has enough resources (tools, persons and persistence) to interfere with the black-market operations, which will evidently still exist also after the reform.
Nordic Legal has extensive experience advising European governments on regulatory best practices. How can your firm assist operators looking to enter the Finnish market and navigate the evolving legal landscape?
With our deep knowledge of Finnish legislation, extensive experience from regulatory developments in other jurisdictions, and strong industry relationships, we are well-positioned to support operators and B2B suppliers entering the Finnish market. We can offer comprehensive guidance not only on compliance and licensing, but also on navigating strategic challenges, ensuring our clients are well-prepared for a dynamic and shifting legal landscape. Our proactive approach enables us to identify regulatory changes early and help clients stay ahead of industry developments.
The post Navigating Legal Frontiers: Nordic Legal’s Vision for the Finnish Gambling Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India (MeitY) has introduced a revised regulatory framework for the online gaming sector, adopting what it calls a “light-touch” approach that keeps most online social games outside mandatory registration or classification requirements.
Announced by MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 are set to come into force on May 1, operationalising the provisions of the PROG Act, 2025 while attempting to strike a balance between oversight and ease of doing business.
At the centre of the framework is a newly constituted Online Gaming Authority, a digital office under MeitY that brings together representatives from finance, information and broadcasting, health, sports, power, justice and external affairs signalling a cross-sectoral approach to governance in a space that cuts across policy domains.
The rules redraw the regulatory boundaries by clearly distinguishing between prohibited real-money gaming formats and permissible categories such as online social games and e-sports. Crucially, classification or “determination” of a game will not be automatic. It will be triggered only in three cases: when initiated by the authority, when a service provider applies (especially for e-sports), or when the government notifies specific categories.
Once triggered, the determination process will follow a 90 day timeline, with outcomes issued through formal orders that apply only to the specific game and publisher, rather than across similar titles.
Registration, too, has been narrowed in scope. It will apply only to notified categories involving financial risk or large-scale participation, along with all e-sports titles. As of now, no categories have been formally notified, with the provision described as enabling rather than mandatory.
Beyond classification, the framework leans heavily on compliance and user safety. Platforms will be required to implement technical and behavioural safeguards, alongside a two-tier grievance redressal system and an appellate route through the authority. Additional obligations include data retention, cybersecurity standards, financial transaction monitoring and periodic reporting extending compliance responsibilities to banks and financial institutions as well.
Structurally, the rules simplify earlier drafts by removing provisions such as a separate section on promoting e-sports and the concept of “material change,” reducing room for interpretational ambiguity. The authority itself will comprise six members, with stricter quorum norms and faster emergency response timelines cut from seven days to three.
Registration validity has been extended to up to 10 years, while suspension and cancellation processes now include a mandatory opportunity for hearing, reflecting a more formalised enforcement mechanism.
The ministry said the revisions incorporate feedback from around 2500 stakeholders, spanning industry, academia, think tanks and legal experts many of whom had flagged concerns around definitions, governance structures and regulatory clarity.
The post India: Online Gaming Act to Come into Force on May 1 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
CT Interactive has strengthened its presence in Bulgaria’s regulated iGaming market by expanding its certified portfolio with 20 new titles. This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality and engaging gaming content tailored to the Bulgarian market.
As part of the expansion, CT Interactive introduces new games to its multicurrency, multi-game progressive Diamond Tree Jackpot, including HOT 7’s X2 Diamond Tree and Wild Clover Diamond Tree. These titles are also available as original versions without the Diamond Tree feature and have already demonstrated strong player engagement and retention across multiple international markets.
The company has also added new releases to its successful Clover-themed line, including Cave of Clovers and Lucky Clover 20, the latest addition to the beloved series. These games feature vintage-inspired graphics and nostalgic design elements that enhance player engagement while maintaining the charm that has made the Clover series a favourite among players worldwide.
Additionally, CT Interactive launches Win Storm Deluxe, the highly anticipated sequel to the internationally successful Win Storm. This new release builds on the original concept and introduces Free Games, delivering an even more dynamic and exciting gameplay experience.
A selection of fresh titles is also being introduced to provide new gaming experiences for Bulgarian operators. Games such as 100x Cherry Party, 40 Hell’s Cherries, and Hell’s Cherries each offer a unique approach, enriching the portfolio and providing players with a wider variety of engaging content.
“Certification in Bulgaria is an important part of our European growth strategy. By expanding our portfolio, we are not only strengthening our market presence, but also providing Bulgarian operators with a proven successful and more diverse content offering,” said Martin Ivanov, COO of CT Interactive.
“With every new certification, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening partnerships in regulated markets and to being a provider of high-quality content that performs well for every operator,” said Kiril Kirilov, Chief Customer Success Officer at CT Interactive.
The post CT Interactive Expands its Certified Portfolio in Bulgaria appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Oklahoma State Senate has rejected a bill last Wednesday that would have legalized sports betting for tribal nations across the state. The bill had garnered support from the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association one day earlier.
House Bill 1047 failed by a 21-27 vote. It was proposed last year by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, and Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City.
During a debate on the state senate floor, Coleman said that prediction markets already exist in Oklahoma, but the state does not benefit from them.
“It does not create a new avenue of gambling. You can legally make a sports bet right now, and it’s unregulated and we get nothing. This bill contains a regulated alternative to legal sports betting with platforms who are very concerned about problem gaming,” Coleman said.
Critics of the bill who spoke on the floor told Coleman they did not want to contribute to sports betting addiction.
Coleman asked the Senate to reconsider the issue in the future after voting ended. A spokesperson for Coleman wrote he could return the bill to the floor in the next few days. That would require finding necessary votes within his caucus.
The measure would have granted tribes the exclusive right to implement in-person and mobile sports betting throughout Oklahoma as a supplement to the State-Tribal Gaming Act of 2004, which gives the tribes sole authority over gaming through exclusivity fees paid to the state.
Those fees would derive from 8% of sports betting earnings. But any revenue from NBA and WNBA wagers would go toward the Strong Readers Act Fund, signed into law last week.
The OKC Thunder and a supermajority of tribes in the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association announced their support for the measure last Tuesday after the parties reached an agreement to revise the bill.
But a spokesperson at the Oklahoma Governor’s Office wrote that Gov. Kevin Stitt does not support expanding the state’s tribal gaming compact.
“The Governor is not interested in expanding Democrat Gov. Brad Henry’s bad gaming compact that lacks transparency and fair market rates,” a texted statement reads.
The statement did not clarify if Stitt would have vetoed the measure.
Stitt has regularly opposed sports betting bills that would grant gaming exclusivity to tribal nations. Last year, he said exclusivity would grant the tribes a monopoly that would clash with a free market system.
Coleman, Luttrell, the governor’s office and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the vote.
The post Oklahoma Senate Rejects the Latest Sports Betting Bill appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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