Finland’s Ministry of the Interior is examining whether people should be able to buy scratch cards for others and how recipients could claim winnings. The study runs until 31 March as part of a review of Lottery Act reforms and the country’s planned licensing market, due to open on 1 July 2027.
The study could affect how scratch-card purchases and prize claims are handled under Finland’s planned licensing framework.
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
Finland's regulated online gambling market is due to open in July 2027 under the Finnish Gambling Act, ending state-owned Veikkaus' exclusive rights to online casino games and sports betting. A Helsinki Times op-ed questioned whether tough responsible gambling measures, including restrictions on marketing and bonuses, will keep licensed offerings attractive, citing Sweden's experience since 2019. Sweden's regulator Spelinspektionen has itself suggested its 90 per cent channelisation target may have been overly ambitious.
Kasinohai tested 50 casinos serving Finnish customers and found advertised wagering terms often understated required stakes. The comparison site conducted tests with real money from 15 to 30 June 2026 as Finland prepared to replace its monopoly with licensing.
The EU General Court rejected Veikkaus Oy’s appeal on 1 July 2026, upholding the EUIPO’s refusal to register “FOR BETTER GAMING – VEIKKAUS” for most of the requested services. The court found the phrase lacked inherent distinctiveness for gambling-related services, where it would be understood as a promotional message rather than an indicator of commercial origin.
Veikkaus introduced age-based loss checkpoints and annual limits in Finland on 9 June, the company said. Players aged 18 to 19 face an annual limit of €8,000, while those aged 20 to 24 face a €24,000 limit; customers reaching checkpoints must speak with a company specialist before continuing. The rules exclude slot machines and table games at Casino Helsinki.
Finnish political parties are divided over whether the state should sell Veikkaus as the country prepares to open online gambling to competition on 1 July 2027. The state-owned operator is being split between monopoly products and online gambling and B2B activities; a former executive estimated its value at €4.5bn. Some opposition parties are open to a sale, while the Left Alliance opposes one and governing parties remain cautious.