Finland Announces First 18 Gambling Licence Holders

The owners of the first licences for gambling in Finland have been confirmed. According to a list published by the board, 18 companies have qualified to receive the first licences. The licences will be valid from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032.

During the same period, 63 applications are still under review. The source text is cut off in a section of the board's statement about each application. As a result, it is not clear from the text what stage the applications are at or exactly what the next steps will be.

The licence system requires companies that want to offer gambling legally in the country to obtain official permission. Such regulations are generally tied to the approval of an authorised institution, with the aim of protecting players and keeping the market under control. For the industry, the first licence list is being watched as an important development that shows which companies will shape the new period.