How operators can prepare for Finland’s iGaming regulation
Finland’s 2027 iGaming reform opens selected online betting and casino categories to licensed competition, creating a major opportunity for operators. Preparing for that opportunity means building player journeys that can adapt to regulatory requirements, not simply securing permission to launch.
Capturing it takes more than a licence. Genuine players need a straightforward route through verification, while suspicious registrations need closer scrutiny. We help operators connect local digital identity, address verification and fraud controls to support faster onboarding and compliance from the first interaction.
What Finland’s new gambling licence means for operators
The new Gambling Act has been approved, and licensed services can begin on 1 July 2027. Preparation still needs to account for implementing decrees and operational guidance. Operators need to distinguish established obligations from details that require continued review as they finalise their systems.
The new model brings a different operating environment. Licence holders will need to meet requirements across identity verification, player registration, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering controls and marketing conduct.
Industry analysis published in 2025 forecast online gambling to account for around 65% of Finland’s total gross gaming revenue (GGR), equivalent to €1.56 billion. Separately, recent reporting estimates total gambling GGR across Finland at €1.9 billion in 2026.
These figures indicate a substantial market opportunity, but estimates for different periods and market scopes do not establish that the market is expanding. Capturing that opportunity means onboarding genuine players with minimal friction while meeting compliance requirements and preventing fraud.
To compete for the categories opening to licensing, operators need verification, compliance and fraud controls ready before launch.
Support player onboarding, compliance, and fraud prevention in Finland
Finland’s opportunity demands more than a licence. We bring local digital identity, verification and risk intelligence together to help operators onboard trusted players and protect growth.
1. Build identity verification for Finland
We connect Finnish Trust Network digital identity with address information, helping operators bring identity and residence checks into the same onboarding journey. For players accustomed to bank-based digital authentication, this provides a familiar starting point rather than making manual document collection the default.
Our Document verification and biometrics provide additional routes for players who cannot use FTN or need further checks. Together, these capabilities help operators verify Finnish players accurately and efficiently without forcing every registration through the same process.
Alternative verification routes need to be assessed against the strong identification requirement for player registration. Document verification or biometrics alone should not be presented as automatically satisfying that obligation; their role depends on the applicable requirements and the operator’s approved process.
Identity verification establishes who a player is; address verification adds information about residence. Connecting these checks with device intelligence and payment signals gives operators more context for assessing discrepancies and deciding when further scrutiny is needed. No single signal establishes that a player is genuine or low risk.
The goal is a trusted identity decision at the first interaction, supported by clear routes for exceptions and manual review.
2. Design for responsible play
Responsible gambling requirements need to be part of the customer journey, not added after launch. Operators remain responsible for registration, age checks, player controls and ongoing monitoring. Our identity and risk capabilities can support that connected experience without replacing the operator’s player-protection responsibilities.
One report estimated average spending at approximately €240 per person, above the UK comparison cited in that report. This provides market context, but average spending does not measure individual vulnerability or gambling-related harm. Operators still need to design player protection into the journey from the outset.
A strong approach protects players while giving operators the evidence and oversight needed to support regulatory confidence.
3. Prepare for fraud from day one
Bonus abuse, multi-accounting, identity manipulation and payment fraud can undermine the value of new registrations. We combine identity checks with device fingerprinting, proxy detection and behavioural signals to help operators identify suspicious applications earlier. This supports targeted scrutiny while keeping straightforward registrations moving.
The strongest fraud strategy is adaptive. Low-risk customers should move efficiently, while higher-risk journeys receive the right level of scrutiny.
4. Monitor risk beyond registration
Market launch is only the beginning. Operators need processes that can support continued growth, product change and regulatory scrutiny without relying on manual work at every step. Adaptable risk rules, audit trails and clear review routes help teams respond as requirements develop without rebuilding the entire player journey.
A trusted registration is only the starting point, but anti-money laundering checks begin during onboarding rather than being deferred until later in the relationship. We help operators re-verify identity, refresh screening and monitor risk throughout the player lifecycle, with ongoing PEP, sanctions and adverse-media re-screening alongside behavioural signals. This helps teams identify changing risk beyond onboarding as their business grows.
Turn readiness into a competitive advantage
Operators often view compliance as a cost of entry. In practice, the right approach can support faster onboarding, stronger fraud prevention and a more trusted customer relationship.
A commercial estimate puts annual Finnish online gambling expenditure flowing to international instant casino operators at €780 million. This illustrates existing demand outside the domestic regulatory framework. The reform seeks to channel that activity into licensed services, but the spend will not transfer automatically.
Operators still need to earn customer trust and deliver a registration journey that works. Reliability, simplicity, security and localisation make that trust tangible for players. Connecting identity, compliance and fraud controls around those decisions gives the partnership a practical purpose: a secure journey without unnecessary friction.
Why operators in Finland need GBG
Operators that build the right player journeys now can enter Finland’s licensed iGaming market with greater confidence, onboard trusted customers faster and reduce avoidable compliance costs.
Three ways we can support operators preparing for Finland’s licensed market:
- We're Finland ready now: operators can start with established capabilities rather than a new proof-of-concept build, then assess configuration, integration and regulatory requirements for their launch.
- We offer a full stack of solutions in one relationship: Finnish Trust Network identity, address verification, document verification and biometrics support identity decisions, while device intelligence, fraud signals and ongoing monitoring add context across the player lifecycle.
- We tailor our solutions to Finland: our approach is built around operators’ needs and Finland’s Gambling Act requirements.
A licence gives you permission to compete, but that's just the first step. We turn regulatory readiness into a stronger player journey by automating the process of verifying genuine customers, assessing risk and tackling fraud without adding unnecessary friction.
Request a demo to explore how we can support your growth in the Finland market.
Licensed gambling services under Finland’s new system can begin on 1 July 2027. Licence applications opened on 1 March 2026.
Operators should assess whether their player journeys combine reliable identity and age verification, responsible gambling controls, anti-money laundering processes and fraud prevention without creating unnecessary friction. They should also ensure their systems can support audit trails, adaptable risk rules and ongoing monitoring.
Operators should assess whether their player journeys combine reliable identity and age verification, responsible gambling controls, anti-money laundering processes and fraud prevention without creating unnecessary friction. They should also ensure their systems can support audit trails, adaptable risk rules and ongoing monitoring.
Connected controls help operators make better decisions earlier in the player journey. Low-risk customers can move through onboarding efficiently, while journeys showing identity, device or behavioural risk can receive additional checks.
Use a risk-based approach to add scrutiny where needed, not to bypass mandatory identification or age checks. Combining trusted identity data with fraud and behavioural signals can streamline straightforward cases and reserve enhanced checks for higher-risk players while retaining required controls.