MP Sinuhe Wallinheimo warns new gambling regulator may not be ready for 2027 licence opening
He warned capacity may be insufficient with less than eight months to go
Key Takeaways
- Sinuhe Wallinheimo said supervisory capacity is not guaranteed before the July 2027 licence opening.
- Gambling supervision will transfer from Poliisihallitus to the new Lupa- ja valvontavirasto.
- Wallinheimo estimated annual gambling revenue leakage to foreign operators at €600–€900 million.
- The interview was given to iGaming Business on 6 November 2026 at SiGMA in Rome.
Sinuhe Wallinheimo said there is no assurance that the new gambling regulator in Finland will be operational before the licence market opens in July 2027. He made the statement in an interview with [iGaming Business](/news) held on 6 November 2026 during the SiGMA event in Rome [SiGMA](/events).
Concern over supervisory capacity
Wallinheimo, a member of the Parliament for KOKOOMUSEN, said in the interview:
"Toistaiseksi meillä ei ole tarvittavaa valvontakapasiteettia," Wallinheimo told iGaming Business at SiGMA in Rome.
Responsibility for gambling supervision will move from Poliisihallitus to the new Lupa- ja valvontavirasto. Wallinheimo questioned whether structures and resources will be ready with less than eight months remaining until the planned effective date in July 2027.
Regulatory model and revenue leakage
Wallinheimo compared Sweden's and Denmark's supervisory models: in his view Sweden keeps a strict line with limited operator dialogue, while Denmark maintains ongoing discussion and cooperation. He estimated Finland has annually lost between €600–€900 million in gambling revenue to foreign operators and stressed the need for new systems to attract those operators into the Finnish market.
Context of the change
The MP described the political evolution: until five or six years ago the Veikkaus monopoly was seen as almost permanent, but accumulating problems and the migration of gambling abroad accelerated the shift towards liberalisation. The original reporting came from iGaming Business, an article by Jake Nordland dated 6 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sinuhe Wallinheimo say about the new regulator's readiness?
Wallinheimo stated there is not the necessary supervisory capacity before the market opening. He made the remark in an interview with iGaming Business during SiGMA in Rome and expressed it in Finnish: "Toistaiseksi meillä ei ole tarvittavaa valvontakapasiteettia."
When is Finland's licence market due to open?
The licence market is scheduled to open in July 2027. Wallinheimo noted this date with less than a year remaining from his statement on 6 November 2026.
Which body will lose supervision and which will take it over?
Supervision will move from Poliisihallitus to the new Lupa- ja valvontavirasto. Wallinheimo cited that transfer when discussing the new authority's operational capacity.
How much revenue does Wallinheimo say is leaking abroad?
Wallinheimo estimated annual losses of between €600–€900 million in gambling revenue to foreign operators. He used that figure to argue for new systems to attract operators into the Finnish market.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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