Wildz Group says it has received a licence to offer online gambling in Finland when the country’s regulated market opens on 1 July 2027. The operator is the first to publicly announce that it has secured a local licence, although the National Supervisory Authority has not confirmed the outcome.
Finland is replacing its state-owned online gambling monopoly with a system open to private operators. The liberalised market is scheduled to launch in July 2027.
Licence award not yet confirmed by regulator
The licensing application window opened in March and was expected to run for six months. By 22 September, 75 applications had been submitted, substantially more than initially anticipated. There was no cap on the number of operators that could apply, but each application required a €29,000 ($33,500) processing fee.
The National Supervisory Authority, which is overseeing the process, has not publicly confirmed whether Wildz Group or any other applicant has been granted a licence. It remains unclear whether the regulator will publish a list of successful applicants or whether it has made decisions on other applications.
Wildz Group, a Malta-based online operator active in several global markets, runs multiple casino brands. A spokesperson said the group was proud to receive what it described as the first online gambling licence for Finland’s new market.
“Being the first operator to receive a gambling licence in Finland is a fantastic milestone for Wildz Group and a well-deserved reward for the hard work and dedication of our entire team throughout the application process,” the spokesperson said.
“We look forward to working closely with the Finnish regulator to achieve the highest possible level of channelisation, ensuring that the new licensing regime is a success and delivers on its objectives.”
Operators prepare for market opening
Several major operators have publicly signalled interest in entering Finland, including Veikkaus, the country’s current monopoly operator. Market analysts have warned that if most applications are approved, the number of licensed businesses could leave the market oversaturated, despite gambling’s popularity in Finland and the country’s relatively small population.
Lasse Rantala, a Wildz Group board member, said on LinkedIn that the licence would take effect on 1 July 2027. He thanked the team and said preparations were continuing ahead of the market launch.
Finland is among the last European countries to move away from a state-owned monopoly in favour of a liberalised gambling market. Sweden fully liberalised its market in 2019.
