Online poker is currently legal in Finland under a state monopoly system, where Veikkaus Oy holds exclusive rights to offer gambling services including poker to Finnish residents. The Finnish gambling system has been regulated by the Lotteries Act since 2001, and Veikkaus operates under the oversight of the Ministry of the Interior (1). However, this monopoly system is undergoing significant reform as the government prepares to transition to a partial licensing model by January 2026.
Finland officially initiated a legislative reform project in October 2023 to replace its current gambling monopoly with a competitive licensing framework for online gambling, including poker. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the government submitted a proposal to Parliament in March 2025, with gambling enterprises able to apply for licenses starting from the beginning of 2026 and licensed services launching from 2027 (2). This reform aims to prevent gambling-related harm while improving the channeling of demand to regulated gambling systems.
"According to the Government Programme, the Government will reform the gambling system and open it to competition using a licence model by 1 January 2026 at the latest."
Under the upcoming licensing system, online casino games and online betting will be opened to competition, while Veikkaus will maintain its monopoly on lotteries, scratch cards, and land-based casinos. The new framework will include strict marketing restrictions, mandatory age verification, identity checks, and consumption limitations to protect players. Finnish residents must be at least 18 years old to participate in gambling activities, and the reform emphasizes preventing economic, social, and health-related harm from gambling while maintaining robust regulatory oversight.
Source:
https://www.peluuri.fi/en/facts-advice/finnish-gaming-system
https://intermin.fi/en/police/gambling
Last updated: 27-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
