Finland’s National Police Board issues four gambling prohibition decisions

During 2026 the Finnish Gambling Administration, a body operating under the National Police Board, has taken stronger action against unauthorised gambling marketing. Its enforcement has produced four prohibition decisions and six conditional fines for violations of Finland's Lotteries Act. Companies and individuals accused of advertising unlicensed gambling services to consumers in mainland Finland were the targets.

Websites, social media channels and live-streaming platforms were the main channels regulators targeted, since they saw them as the principal ways of reaching consumers in Finland. Individual offenders were given conditional fines of €30,000 to €200,000, and companies were fined €100,000 to €1.2m. When prohibition orders went unheeded, the sums actually collected from individuals ranged from €20,000 to €100,000.

According to Juhani Wallinvirta, head of group at the National Police Board, the penalties are designed to halt unlawful activity quickly. He said: "The imposition of a conditional fine may be considered necessary to ensure an immediate and effective end to the illegal marketing of gambling. The purpose of the conditional fine is not to punish illegal activities, but to reinforce compliance with the prohibition decision and to ensure that illegal marketing actually ceases. Under existing law, only Veikkaus Oy has the right to market gambling games in mainland Finland."

According to officials, illegal marketing has grown across digital channels, with social media platforms and gaming livestreams standing out in particular. Such channels give influencers and operators an easy way to steer Finnish players toward offshore and other unauthorised gambling offerings. Officials add that this goes beyond merely informing consumers about gambling services: it may push more people to take part and raise the danger of gambling-related harm.

This enforcement effort coincides with Finland's planned overhaul of its gambling framework: the Veikkaus monopoly is due to end in July 2027, when licensed private operators will be allowed into the online market. Last month the National Police Board said 75 applications for new Finnish online gambling licences had arrived by 22 September, a figure above expectations and an increase on the 50 applications logged in June.

At present the National Police Board of Finland (Arpajashallinto) manages the Finnish Gambling Administration, whose duties under the state-monopoly system are to regulate, supervise and enforce gambling laws. When the market launches, those duties will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. Veikkaus, for its part, has set up two subsidiaries and is reorganising its online operations so that it can compete with the private operators anticipated in the newly licensed market.