Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has released four draft regulations under the Gambling Act (10/2026), setting mandatory RTP rates, loss limits, and maximum stake caps for the country’s iGaming market ahead of its liberalisation on 1 July 2027.
The measures cover online slot behaviour, return-to-player floors across game categories, aggregate player loss limits, and physical infrastructure caps for land-based venues. A public consultation is open until 5 August 2026, meaning the proposals remain subject to change.
Up to 50 operator licence applications have already been filed for the Finnish market, though uncertainty over player protection requirements had been a concern for stakeholders in recent months.
Online Slot Restrictions
The draft regulations introduce several mandatory controls on electronic slot-style games. Each spin must be manually initiated, with autoplay and auto-spin functionality prohibited. Spins must last a minimum of 2.5 seconds, with no player option to shorten animations.
Operators will be required to disclose when player choices do not affect random outcomes. Mandatory play-time reminders must appear every 15 minutes and require players to confirm continuation or log out. The requirement does not apply to player-versus-player casino games.
Uniform deadlines for prize claims are also proposed to standardise administration across the market.
Mandatory RTP Rates
The Ministry has proposed RTP bands across product categories. Slot machines and casino table games must return between 70% and 99.9% to players. Daily-draw betting games fall within a 50%–70% range, while online betting products must carry an RTP of between 55% and 80%.
The government said the aim is to secure consistent consumer returns while giving regulators a basis for fair-play oversight.
Loss Limits and Stake Caps
The proposals introduce differentiated loss limits and stake caps by game type and player age.
For online slots, players under 25 face a maximum stake of €10 per spin. Players aged 25 and over are subject to a €20 per spin cap.
For physical slot machines, the draft sets a daily loss limit of €500, a monthly limit of €2,000, and an annual limit of €24,000.
The age-based approach mirrors measures already in place at state-owned operator Veikkaus, which introduced age-based annual and checkpoint loss limits, including an €8,000 annual loss cap for players aged 18–19, with no annual cap for those over 25.
Land-Based Infrastructure Caps
The draft regulations propose strict caps on gambling venue infrastructure. Slot machine allocation is set at 10,000 units across retail outlets, 2,000 within dedicated gaming halls, and up to 400 within the sole licensed casino permitted in Helsinki.
Gaming halls are limited to 60 nationwide. Table games are capped at 100 per gaming hall. The Helsinki casino will operate with public access from midday to 4am daily.
Industry Reaction
Antti Koivula, chief commercial officer at Hippos ATG, commented on the measures via LinkedIn, describing them as restrictive but stopping short of the most regulated European markets.
“Restrictive, but not quite Germany. Perhaps not even the Netherlands, at least not yet. That said, more regulation and regulative guidance to come so keep your fingers crossed.”
Finland’s approach draws comparison with other Nordic markets navigating the tension between player protection and market competitiveness. Nordic regulators have taken an increasingly assertive enforcement posture, with both Norway and Sweden issuing significant operator fines in recent months.
The consultation closes on 5 August 2026. Austria is also advancing major gambling law changes ahead of a 2027 licence expiration, making Finland one of several European markets simultaneously reshaping their regulatory frameworks this year.
Source: Finland Ministry of the Interior
