Finnish Casinos

Looking for trusted online casinos in Finland? See our expert shortlist of Finland-friendly casino sites with quick deposits and timely withdrawals.

Online gambling is a favorite pastime of millions of people around the world, and Finns are hardly an exception. Finnish people love to partake in a variety of gambling activities, as is evident from various surveys that indicate Finns can spend up to €10 billion per year on slot machines, virtual casino gaming, lottery tickets, and sports betting. The regulatory bodies currently responsible for overseeing gambling operations within Finland are the Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board’s Gambling Administration.

A state-controlled monopoly has been in place in the country ever since World War II. While Finland ranks fifth among the largest gambling nations worldwide, its gambling legislation remains quite rigid and is largely the same as it was seventy years ago. Over the past decade, a number of foreign online gaming operators have attempted to enter the lucrative Finnish gambling market, but to no avail. It was only recently that Finnish authorities warmed up to the idea of opening the country’s monopolized market to foreign competition. At the time of writing, Finland’s government is planning to switch to a licensing model by 2026.

Most Reputable Casinos in Finland

Casino Games Pro has carried out in-depth research on online casinos serving Swedish players and compiled a list of leading operators offering interactive casino titles.

We examined core elements of each site, including game catalogues, payment and withdrawal options, and customer support. You’ll also find details on promotions, minimum deposits, and game variety—giving players a quick route to their preferred interactive entertainment.

Finland’s Gambling Regulatory Bodies

Both land-based and online gambling are currently legal in the Republic of Finland, but the regulations imposed by the country are extremely tight.

In the past, land-based gambling was regulated by the so-called RAY, which stands for Raha-automaattiyhdistys, or the Finnish Slot Machine Association. This state-owned entity was established in 1938 and was responsible for the control of all forms of brick-and-mortar gambling, including slot machines, card games like blackjack and poker, and other traditional table games such as roulette. What is more, RAY also held a permit from the Finnish state, allowing it not only to oversee but also to manufacture land-based slot machines. This regulatory body was widely known for its slots, yet it also regulated all interactive gaming activities and owned the largest official casino in the country, the Grand Casino Helsinki. In addition, RAY secured and granted funding for all health and addiction problems associated with pathological gambling.

Casino Helsinki is where a wide range of poker tournaments are held throughout the year, including the popular Finnish Championship Tournament, which attracts some of the best poker players in the country.

Another regulatory entity in Finland was Veikkaus Oy, the Finnish National Lottery. This entity controlled national lottery tickets, instant-win games, and sports betting activities within the country. Similar to RAY, Veikkaus Oy was owned by the government of Finland and managed by the country’s Ministry of Education, strange as it may sound. The profits generated by Veikkaus were shared between the Ministry of Education and several other organizations to support social and cultural initiatives such as youth work, arts, science, and sports.

The third state-owned regulatory entity in Finland was Fintoto Oy, an organization overseeing gambling activities related to horse racing and pari-mutuel betting. Similar to Veikkaus Oy, this entity invested its profits in the Finnish state organization Suomen Hippos, which oversees the registration and breeding of horses.

As of January 2017, all three entities merged into one government-owned betting organization, simply called Veikkaus, which now owns Casino Helsinki. Moreover, all forms of gambling are now strictly regulated by the Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board’s Gambling Administration.

There is a fourth regulatory entity in Finland, called PAF, which stands for “Play Among Friends”. This organization is responsible for regulating all gambling activities that take place within the territory of the Åland Islands. The archipelago spans over 6,700 islands and was a former Finnish province that acquired autonomous status in 2009.

The organization was established in 1966, but after the advent of the internet, when online gambling gained popularity, PAF and RAY became major competitors. The former started providing online casino betting in 1999, but the enforcement of the 2002 Act on Gambling led to RAY becoming the only officially authorized online gambling provider in mainland Finland. Since PAF offered more appealing prizes and better odds, the majority of mainland Finnish players preferred it over RAY. Members of RAY’s board went as far as to take the issue to court. However, the Finnish government stepped in and settled the matter by allowing the two organizations to operate concurrently.

Finland’s Current Stance on Online Gambling

As explained earlier, online gambling activities in Finland are completely legal, but regulations are so tight that Finnish players who wish to bet legally online are left with an extremely limited number of options.

The trouble is, Veikkaus and PAF are the only two organizations that Finnish authorities allow to run interactive gambling websites. This has led to the establishment of a gambling monopoly in the country, meaning it is illegal for international gambling providers to offer their services to Finnish residents without first obtaining Finnish licenses. For a long time, Finland’s government was against granting such licenses to international operators despite pressure from the European Commission.

In 2010, popular gaming developer Playtech signed a contract that enabled it to provide high-end gambling software solutions and products to an online casino then run by RAY. Apparently, the government was reluctant to allow its residents to spend their money on gambling websites operating outside the country’s borders. Playtech products are now offered at Veikkaus’ online casino, which also features a poker room.

In 2010, Finland went as far as introducing legislation that banned offshore gambling providers from advertising and promoting their services to Finnish residents. Finnish authorities did not stop there, as foreign gambling operators were also prohibited from using domains ending in the .fi extension. If an international gambling operator is caught red-handed, it risks legal prosecution and serious repercussions, such as a two-year jail sentence and a hefty fine.

As established, all of this is set to change thanks to a proposed licensing model that, if all goes well, should be officially introduced by the time 2026 rolls around. According to the Finnish government, the new legislation will allow non-Finnish casinos to apply for a license and, if they meet all requirements, offer casino products to gamblers residing in Finland.

In the meantime, some Finnish players have decided to try offshore casinos, seeing as there are no known cases of Finnish players being prosecuted for participating in online gambling activities on websites based outside the country. The current legislation is applicable to foreign gambling operators, and there is no specific law preventing residents from betting on international gaming websites.

More importantly, many foreign operators are more than willing to accept registrations from Finnish players. It is also worth mentioning that processing payments to an online casino is perfectly possible for Finnish players since financial transactions to and from online casinos are not monitored by the government. Banking institutions are likewise not prohibited from processing such payments. The same applies to the IP addresses of foreign gambling sites—they are neither monitored nor blocked, which allows easy access for Finns.

What further adds to players’ convenience is the fact that international gambling operators accept a variety of currencies, including the widely used EUR, helping avoid currency conversion fees. Furthermore, residents of Finland can choose from a solid range of secure banking methods suitable for processing payments from the country. Some of the most popular options include Euteller, Nordea, Zimpler, as well as widespread credit and debit cards.

Taxes on Online Gambling in Finland

Finnish players can enjoy peace of mind knowing that winnings generated while betting at online casinos are not subject to any taxes. However, this is not the case for gambling operators themselves. Finnish laws impose a tax on both online and land-based casino operators, who are required to pay 8.25% of their gross profits. Meanwhile, lotteries are taxed at 9.5% of their annual gross profits.

The Future of Online Gambling in Finland

Gambling has always been a popular pastime in Finland, and Finns are known to have engaged in such activities ever since the 17th century. It was prohibited for a short period in 1899, but the ban was lifted in 1917. Despite the fact that Finland has a long history when it comes to gambling, the government had been reluctant to further the sector’s expansion by opening its market and issuing local licenses to international operators that offer interactive casino games. Market expansion would provide yet another benefit for players, as it would protect them against unreliable foreign gambling websites and potential scams.

The tight regulatory policies of Finland have been addressed by the European Commission on several occasions. Back in 2010, the Commission put pressure on Finland to make changes to its rigid gambling regulations so they would comply with the European Union’s policies on free trade. The Commission requested amendments to what it referred to as Finland’s “protectionist” policy on gambling.

Instead of opening its market to foreign operators, the country responded by adapting its monopolized regulatory system to fit EU requirements. The “change” involved merging the three state-run regulatory bodies (RAY, Veikkaus Oy, and Fintoto Oy) into one entity, called Veikkaus.

Although gambling is a widespread pastime in the country, Finns are generally not concerned about the limited number of local casino providers. This may come as a surprise, but according to a survey conducted by a popular media outlet, as many as 66% of older participants voted in favor of preserving the state monopoly on online gambling.

Those who would prefer Finland’s gambling sphere to expand will be pleased to hear that things are about to change—and quite drastically. In 2023, the Finnish government disclosed its intention to end the monopoly and give offshore gambling operators the opportunity to obtain local licenses. Current plans point toward Finland having an open gambling market by the start of 2026.