Constitutional questions raised over Finland’s gambling liberalisation plans
The proposed Finnish Gambling Act has been sent back to the Administrative Committee for clarifications.
Finland.- The proposed new Finnish Gambling Act has hit a momentary snag. The eduskunta’s Constitutional Committee has called for revisions and greater clarity on the bill, which would end the gambling monopoly of Finland’s state-controlled Veikkaus.
Presented in March, the proposal to liberalise Finnish online gambling has broad political backing and was expected to pass with little issue to establish a multi-licence system by 2027. However, the Constitutional Committee has flagged several concerns around the bill’s wording, which it says leaves too much open to interpretation.
One of the committee’s key criticisms is that the legislation could infringe on constitutionally protected rights, such as freedom of business and expression. It argues that any legal changes affecting these rights must be clearly defined and not left ambiguous.
The Constitutional Committee has also described the proposed tax framework as “somewhat confusing” and urged lawmakers to ensure it remains fair and not overly punitive. Marketing rules have also come under scrutiny. The bill would restrict gambling advertising to “moderate” visibility and frequency, but the committee believes this definition is too vague and needs to be more precise.
The bill has now been sent back to the Administrative Committee, which will be responsible for refining its language and resolving the issues raised. It will need to clarify what constitutes “moderate marketing,” which is a crucial point for operators considering that some are already preparing for market launch with sponsorship deals recent deals, such as Åland Islands-based operator Paf’s deal with Formula One star Kimi Räikkönen and Veikkaus’s extension of its existing deal with the Finnish Football Association, Palloliitto.
Speaking of Paf, the Administrative Committee will also need to address how the new Gambling Act will interact with the Act on Åland Autonomy since the islands’ state-owned operator’s entry to the Finnish market may raise questions about jurisdiction and regulatory overlap.
The proposed legislation would lead to the separation of Veikkaus into two companies, one maintaining a monopoly over lottery and land-based gambling and the other competing with commercial operators in the online market. Despite the setback, the Constitutional Committee’s feedback only totalled eight pages and is not expected to hold up the legislation for long or delay plans for the market to launch at the start of 2027.
