“The License Is Not the Bottleneck”: Challenges Await Finland Operators

Finland's Market Opening Starts a New Race

Finland made a major change on 16 December 2025. Lawmakers approved a new law that will end the online gambling monopoly of Veikkaus Oy. The law also creates a licensing system for private operators. The application process opened on 1 March 2026. Companies moved quickly.

By the end of March, the National Police Board had received 24 applications. Some of the industry's biggest names joined the process. These included Entain, Flutter Entertainment, Kindred Group, LeoVegas Group, and Betsson Group.

Many companies are focused on getting approval. Yet some experts believe the biggest challenge comes after that.

The License May Be the Easy Part

Kristof Szucs says operators should think beyond the application process. In his view, the real challenge is getting ready for launch. A key requirement is OCSS, Finland's national self-exclusion system.

Operators must connect their platforms to this system. Every player check and session start must work through it. However, the technical rules are still being finalized. The current requirements are only drafts. Final details may not arrive until the middle of 2026.

This leaves operators in a difficult position. They must prepare now even though some rules are not yet complete.

Compliance Work Is Still Growing

OCSS is only one part of the work. Operators must also provide Finnish-language services. They need strong anti-money laundering controls. They must also have customer verification systems that meet Finnish rules.

Some key tasks include:

• Connecting to the OCSS system

• Meeting Finnish-language requirements

• Building AML controls

• Setting up KYC checks

• Preparing systems before launch

Time Is Moving Quickly

The market is expected to open on 1 July 2027. Companies that applied in March 2026 have around 15 months to get ready. That may sound like enough time. But many projects must be completed at once.

Operators need to build systems. They need to test new connections. They must also meet all compliance requirements. Some companies may win a license but still face delays. The problem may not be approval from regulators. The problem may be getting everything ready before launch day.

The operators in the strongest position appear to be those that started early. They looked at technical systems, compliance needs, and language requirements long before submitting an application. As Finland prepares for its new gambling market, success may depend on readiness as much as licensing.