Finland Targets Gambling Promoters Ahead of 2027 Market Opening

Finland has stepped up enforcement against the promotion of illegal gambling, with companies facing conditional fines of up to €1.2 million if they ignore orders to stop marketing.

In an October 14 announcement, the National Police Board reported four prohibition decisions this year regarding illegal gambling promotions on websites and social media. It has also ordered six conditional fines to be paid, all against individuals.

Conditional fines attached to prohibition orders have ranged from €30,000 to €200,000 for individuals and from €100,000 to €1.2 million for companies. Fines ordered payable by individuals ranged from €20,000 to €100,000. Payment is required when a recipient fails to comply with a prohibition within the specified deadline.

Juhani Wallinvirta, Head of Group at the National Police Board, said:

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.

The board identified social media and gaming livestreams as common channels for illegal promotions targeting Finnish consumers. The legal definition of marketing is broad and includes all promotional activities intended to increase demand for gambling.

In January 2026, Finland enacted a new Gambling Act that moves from a state monopoly to a license-based system. Licensed operators may begin offering services on July 1, 2027.