Following recently submitted changes to Finland's new Gambling Bill from opposition parties in the nation, the bill is now set to progress through parliament with few alterations.
Indeed, minor amendments were made by Finland's Administrative Committee. However, many more significant adjustments put forward by the opposition parties, including; a raised minimum gambling age from 18 to 20, a ban on direct marketing to under 24-year-olds, advertising restrictions on TV and radio, a raised tax rate of 25.5% and mandatory two-factor authentication checks per online login - were all voted down.
In addition, suggestions for central deposits and loss limits across all operators, as well as a blanket ban on bonuses - were both rejected. It has been reiterated by the Finnish Government that this soon-to-be-implemented gambling industry reform, which sees the demonopolisation of its current Veikkaus monopoly, comes with the aim of reducing and restricting gambling harms whilst "balancing elements that support the channelling ability and attractiveness of the gambling system."
Now, the bill continues to advance through checks by multiple committees - including those for education, economic affairs, the Social and Health Committee, Agriculture and Forestry Committee and the Finance Committee, as Finland continues on what has been a long road to regulation.
Initially announced in 2024, Finland formally submitted the new bill to end its gambling monopoly and launch its licensing model by 2027 in March of this year. Since that time, the new Gambling Act has faced constitutional scrutiny, as well as skepticism from opposition political parties. Nevertheless, the nation confirmed last week that a dual-licence framework for B2B and B2C organisations would be active in the market following its scheduled 2027 opening.
The scheduled implementation of Finland's new market in January 2027 falls just before the nation's next parliamentary election in April 2027
