Best Online Casinos in Finland (2026)

From three monopolies to the 2017 merger to the 2024 reform

Finnish gambling has been run by state monopolies since the 1930s. Veikkaus was set up in 1940 for football pools and later the lottery. RAY was established in 1938 for slot machines and land-based casinos, while Fintoto ran horse-race betting. For decades, these three operated side by side, sending profits to specific public causes: Veikkaus supported youth and sports, RAY funded social welfare and health, and Fintoto backed horse racing. By the late 1990s, when the internet arrived, this three-monopoly model was 80 years old. It struggled to adapt to online play, and because the three operators were popular, changing them was difficult. While politicians debated for two decades, the offshore market grew.

In 2017, the three monopolies merged into a single state-owned company called Veikkaus Oy. This simplified the structure and unified how money was collected, but it did not change the core monopoly. Veikkaus took over all three product areas, becoming the single face of state-authorised gambling for lottery, casino, sports, and horse racing. This was an administrative change rather than a structural one, as the monopoly remained in place.

By the late 2010s and early 2020s, the issue of offshore gambling became harder to ignore. Finnish state estimates suggest that Veikkaus only captured about 50% of total online gambling in Finland, with the other half going to international operators based abroad. This is the lowest rate for any European monopoly market, far behind countries like Norway or Sweden before their own reforms. Because international operators were good, enforcement was limited, and the Veikkaus website did not offer as many games as international sites, the monopoly failed to keep Finnish gambling activity within the national regulatory framework.

The Finnish Ministry of the Interior (Sisaministerio) drafted the reform package in 2023. It was debated and approved by the Finnish parliament (Eduskunta) in 2024 with support across party lines. The new law creates a competitive licensing system for casino games and sports betting, while keeping lottery and scratch cards exclusive to Veikkaus. A new licensing authority, known as Lupahallinto, is being set up. Regulations for licence fees, safety rules, and advertising are being finalised throughout 2025. The first licences should be issued in 2026, with the market opening in 2027.

In mid-2026, Finland is in the middle of this transition. The law is approved, regulations are being finalised, and the new authority is being built. Operators are preparing their licence applications. For now, the choices for Finnish players remain the same as in previous years. However, this will change by the end of 2027 once the licensed market is operational.

What the transition means for Finnish players today

The Finnish player position through mid-2026 is unusual because the regulatory framework is changing. You are essentially choosing which version of the framework you prefer. There are three practical options:

• Veikkaus only. This is the only operator authorised in Finland. The pros are a clear regulatory framework, tax-free winnings, and full Finnish-language support. The cons are a smaller selection of games compared to international sites, fewer bonuses, and fewer payment options.
• EEA-licensed offshore (Malta MGA, Estonia, etc.). These are established operators licensed in the European Economic Area. The pros are a wider range of games and a proven track record. Winnings remain tax-free under the Finnish exemption. The cons are that they are not authorised in Finland, so you have no protection from the Finnish state. Their future in Finland depends on whether they get a Finnish licence in 2026 or 2027.
• Non-EEA offshore (Curacao, Comoros, Caribbean). These operators offer the largest game selection and the most bonuses. However, they are outside the Finnish framework and the EEA tax exemption, so winnings are technically taxable. They are also the least likely to get a Finnish licence, meaning they may be blocked in the future.

Many players take a hybrid approach: they use Veikkaus for lotteries and an EEA-licensed operator for other games. They then plan to switch to a Finnish-licensed brand once the new market opens. It is worth checking if your current offshore operator is likely to apply for a Finnish licence. The large, well-known brands licensed in the EEA are the most likely to apply, while brands licensed in Curacao or Comoros are less likely to do so.

The bodies that matter for Finnish players

Finnish gambling oversight is in transition. Veikkaus operates as the state monopoly, Poliisihallitus is the current supervisory authority, Sisaministerio drafts the policy framework, and Lupahallinto is being built as the post-reform licensing authority. Support is anchored by Peluuri's federal helpline, A-klinikkasaatio for clinical-level intervention, and THL for the research and public-health framework.

What Finnish players should verify before depositing

You should check the following details to understand your position. The licence is the most important factor.

Finland-specific traps during the transition

These traps arise because Finland is between two different frameworks.

Responsible play, Finnish resources

The Finnish gambling support network is robust, though a national cross-operator self-exclusion register does not yet exist.

For now, the best approach is to set deposit limits at all your accounts, use the Peli poikki! tool at Veikkaus, and use tools like BetBlocker if you need them. Our broader Responsible gambling guide adds the wider context on transition-era protection.

Common questions about online casinos in Finland

The questions Finnish players ask most often about the Arpajaislaki reform, Veikkaus's post-reform role, the EEA-vs-non-EEA tax position, Pay-N-Play, and what the transition timeline means for current play decisions.