Finland has published new draft gambling regulations that would place tighter controls on online slots, casino play, physical gaming machines, and player losses before the licensed iGaming market opens on July 1, 2027.
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Finland Ministry of the Interior released four draft regulations under the new Gambling Act 10/2026, giving operators a clearer look at the player protection rules ahead of market opening.
The draft rules focus heavily on gambling harm, loss limits, stake caps, autoplay, return to player rates, and physical gambling access. Finland has already received up to 50 operator licence applications, but many companies had waited for more detail on how strict the new market would become.
Online slots sit at the center of the proposal. Each spin must start manually, while autoplay and auto spin functions would not be allowed. Players also could not shorten animations, as every spin must last at least 2.5 seconds.
The Ministry also wants clearer game information. When player choices do not affect random outcomes, operators must tell players. Online gambling sites would also need 15 minute play time reminders that ask players to confirm whether they want to continue or log out. Player versus player casino games would sit outside that reminder rule.
For Finland online casino operators, the message looks clear enough. Access will open, but not without detailed rules on safer gambling, game design, and consumer protection.
The draft regulations also introduce minimum and maximum return to player rules by product type. Slot machines and casino table games would need RTP rates between 70% and 99.9%. Daily draw betting games would sit around 50% to 70%, while online betting products would need RTP between 55% and 80%.
Loss limits would vary by game type and player age. For online slots, under 25 players would face a maximum €10 stake per spin. Older players would face a €20 limit. Physical slot machines would carry a €500 daily loss limit, a €2,000 monthly limit, and a €24,000 annual limit.
Finland also plans strict caps on gambling venues and machines. Retail outlets could host up to 10,000 slot machines. Dedicated gaming halls could host 2,000 machines. The only licensed casino in Helsinki could host up to 400 machines.
Gaming halls would be capped at 60 nationwide, with up to 100 table games per hall. The Helsinki casino could open to the public from midday until 4am.
The draft follows the wider Finland gambling reform, which ends the old Veikkaus online monopoly model for parts of the market and allows licensed private operators to offer online casino and betting from July 2027. Veikkaus has also introduced age based loss checkpoints, including an €8,000 annual loss limit for players aged 18 to 19 and no annual loss limit for players over 25.