Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has stated that it may update the nation’s regulations pertaining to internet gambling. With this idea, Finland may abandon its current monopoly structure and embrace a licensing arrangement more akin to many modern gaming markets.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), an industry association that represents the leading iGaming businesses in Europe, praised the Ministry of the Interior for introducing a legislative initiative to investigate this shift.
Key Aspects of the Legislative Project
The goal of Finland’s legislative effort is to provide the necessary draft legislation to move from a license system to one. It will include important topics including which activities will be allowed, operator taxes and fees, and safeguards against gambling-related damage. According to the EGBA, the Ministry of the Interior’s project is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2025, and it is anticipated that a legislative proposal would be introduced in the spring of that year.
Finland is the only member of the European Union that still has a monopoly on internet gambling. However, as users go to offshore gaming sites in search of a wider variety of material, the system’s shortcomings are becoming more and more apparent. Finland has lost control over its iGaming market as a result of this change and has lost out on potential tax revenue.
The EGBA is fully in favor of Finland’s decision to implement a licensing mechanism. According to the organization, this adjustment might improve player safety, raise tax receipts, and level the playing field for operators. It is a “welcome step toward meaningful and overdue gambling reform” in the nation, according to EGBA secretary general Maarten Haijer. He also stressed how Finland’s alignment with other EU members will result from this change.
While Finland investigates the potential of switching to a licensing model, Norway is moving on with its plans to block DNS and is sticking with its monopoly systems.
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