Finland's New Gambling Act Sent for Revisions to Clarify Advertising and Tax Rules

• Finland’s landmark Gambling Act, the bill set to end the Veikkaus monopoly, has been sent for revisions by the country’s Constitutional Committee over concerns about a lack of legal clarity.
• The committee has demanded a more precise definition for the term “moderate advertising” to provide clear and unambiguous rules for the new multi-licence system.
• It also flagged a proposed tax on winnings from unlicensed operators as potentially unconstitutional and “confiscatory,” requiring amendment.
• The review is a procedural step and is not expected to delay the planned launch of the new open online gambling market, which is still on track for January 2027.
• Industry experts have welcomed the committee’s intervention, stating it will bring “much-needed clarity” to the Finland gambling regulation for future licensed operators.

A Procedural Hurdle on the Path to an Open Market

Ely, UK - 1st October 2025 - Finland’s new Gambling Act-the landmark legislation that will dismantle the state-run Veikkaus monopoly and open the country to a competitive multi-licence system-has hit a minor but significant procedural roadblock. The Finnish Parliament’s Constitutional Committee has reviewed the bill and has called for several revisions to improve its legal precision before it can proceed to a final vote.

While the bill still has broad political support, the committee has flagged a number of areas where the current wording is too vague and open to interpretation, potentially infringing on constitutionally protected rights.

The Call for Clarity: Advertising and Taxation

The two primary areas of concern identified by the committee are advertising and taxation.

• Advertising Rules: The draft legislation uses the term “moderate advertising” to define the limits for the new market. The committee has ruled that this term is too ambiguous and has demanded a more precise legal definition to provide clear guidelines for operators and prevent future disputes.
• Taxation Rules: A proposal to tax winnings that Finnish players obtain from unlicensed international operators drew scrutiny. The committee warned that the system as proposed could, in some cases, result in taxes that exceed the amount won, which would violate the constitutional prohibition against “confiscatory” taxation.

A Positive Step for Regulatory Certainty

Despite the request for revisions, industry experts have largely welcomed the committee’s intervention. Far from being a setback, the move is seen as a positive step that will ultimately create a stronger and clearer legal framework for the new Finland gambling regulation.

Antti Koivula, a leading legal expert, said the recommendations “bring much-needed clarity to the marketing rules and help prevent any misinterpretation.” He added that the adjustments to player taxation “protect professional sports bettors from excessive levies that could have made operating in Finland untenable.”

The Road to 2027 Remains on Track

The committee’s feedback is not expected to derail the overall legislative timeline. The bill will now be finalised by the Administrative Committee before moving to its final parliamentary readings, with approval still anticipated by late October or early November.

This keeps the plan to end the Veikkaus monopoly and launch the new multi-licence system for online gambling firmly on track for January 2027. The committee’s intervention is simply part of the due process, ensuring that when the market does open, it will be governed by a Finnish Gambling Act that is constitutionally sound and legally precise-a positive and welcome outcome for all future stakeholders in the new regulated market.