Finland is continuing to refine its gambling legislation as it seeks to confirm the schedule for implementing its new licensing system at the beginning of next year. Two draft technical regulations were published this week.

According to Nordic Legal, one draft regulation concerns random number generation (RNG) and game integrity, while the other outlines requirements for system reliability and information security. For RNG and game integrity, the method of implementing, maintaining and documenting the technology will be analysed. A formal approval process is provided, requiring traceability, change control and verifiable testing.

The regulations on system reliability and information security stipulate that licence applicants will undergo a biennial information security test and an annual external vulnerability scan. Both processes will be carried out by accredited inspection bodies.

Companies will receive a pass/fail rating based on international scoring methodology, with an emphasis on demonstrating continuous monitoring and timely remediation of identified issues. The information security test will assess game integrity outcomes, the protection of personal and transactional data, and the security of log files and game event information. The annual vulnerability scan will check for potentially exploitable weaknesses.

Both draft regulations assume the use of accredited inspection bodies operating under ISO or IEC standards.

Accreditation scopes aligned with Danish or Swedish technical regulations may be accepted, and companies operating in other Nordic countries may potentially support their compliance with existing certification – although to what extent this will be allowed is not yet clear.

The launch of the new licensing system will bring an end to the Veikkaus monopoly, but the future of the state-owned operator may be uncertain. Earlier, in an interview with MTV News, Finland’s Director General of Ownership Steering, Maija Strandberg, did not rule out a public listing of Veikkaus in 2027.

Jari Vähänen, Co-Founder and Partner at The Finnish Gambling Consultants, noted during a recent SBC webinar that Finland and Veikkaus could follow the example of FDJ United in France. This would allow them to remain within the current legal framework, which stipulates that the exclusive licence holder must be under direct state control – though this does not necessarily require full state ownership.

“They can even sell the majority but have different kinds of stocks there. So, in practice, if that will happen, let’s assume that Finland will privatise just the multi-license part of the Veikkaus, it should be quite simple to actually do. 

“If they listed the whole of Veikkaus, there will be at least four separate entities under the Veikkaus umbrella when the legislation changes at the beginning of 2027 – a technology company, a current B2B provider, Fennica Gaming and then the multi-license – they are private or will be private entities competing against the other companies, but then they tell different stories than the exclusive license holder Veikkaus, so I don’t know how that could happen. 

“My personal opinion is that from a business perspective and also from a legal perspective, it would be much better when the state doesn’t have too big a role in the business, when they are regulating and setting laws for the same business.”

Finland’s licensed regulated market is currently scheduled to launch in January 2027.

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