Finland approves Nordplay, 7bet and SkillOnNet for 2027 market entry

Nordplay Group, 7bet and SkillOnNet said they have received licence approval from Finland's National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) to enter the country's regulated iGaming market. The approvals will allow the operators to launch in the market from 1 July 2027, according to the companies' statements.

The three join ComeOn, SuomiVeto, Hippos ATG and Wildz Group as confirmed licensees to date.

Nordplay, which is based in Malta, already operates in Sweden through the Onerush, Frank & Fred, Pop Casino, Jubla and Klirr brands, and the Finnish approval extends that footprint. Nicolas Lund, director and chief operating officer at Nordplay Group, called the green light "an important achievement" and said it reflected the expertise and dedication of the company's team. According to Lund, regulatory know-how gives Nordplay a competitive edge and lets it move into new markets with confidence. He added that Finland matters as a market in its own right, that the company devoted substantial time and resources to the licensing process and to preparing its businesses, and that some details of how the new regime will operate remain unresolved.

The Finnish approval gives 7bet a fourth market to add to the three where it already holds licences: Lithuania, the United Kingdom and Latvia. Justinas Sliazas, chief executive of 7bet, said: "Five years ago, we started with a simple belief – you don’t need to be the biggest to achieve big things." With the Finnish licence in hand, he said, the company is moving further toward becoming a truly international operator. Sliazas also said his team had shown that a comparatively small group can outperform larger rivals by acting faster, more intelligently, with more drive and greater efficiency.

SkillOnNet, whose iGaming brands include PlayOJO, likewise said it had secured a licence to enter Finland. Maor Nutkevitch, head of corporate development at SkillOnNet, said: "Finland represents a fantastic opportunity, with a strong digital culture and a clear commitment to creating a safe, competitive, and sustainable online gaming environment." He described the company as one of the first operators to be approved and said it expected to offer its know-how, its games and its player-focused approach to Finnish customers once the market launches next July.