MP Wallinheimo says Finland lacks capacity to ready new gambling regulator
He warns the authority may not be operational before the July 2027 licensing market opens.
Key Takeaways
- Sinuhe Wallinheimo warned the new Finnish gambling regulator may not be operational before the licensing market opens in July 2027.
- Oversight for gambling will move from the Finnish National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) to Lupa- ja valvontavirasto.
- Wallinheimo estimated Finland loses about €600–900 million a year in gambling revenues to foreign operators.
- He contrasted Sweden's strict low-engagement model with Denmark's collaborative approach when discussing the new authority's potential stance.
Sinuhe Wallinheimo said he is concerned Finland's new gambling regulator will not be ready before the licensing market opens in July 2027. He raised the warning at the SiGMA event in Rome in an interview with iGaming Business on 6 November 2026 and said:
"Toistaiseksi meillä ei ole tarvittavaa valvontakapasiteettia," Wallinheimo said to iGaming Business in Rome.
Wallinheimo, a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), flagged timing and capacity as the key risks. Oversight responsibility for gambling will move from the Finnish National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) to the new Lupa- ja valvontavirasto. He said if work to establish the new authority begins only now, he cannot predict the outcome.
Concerns on regulator resources and industry relations
Wallinheimo compared regulatory styles in other Nordics, citing Sweden's strict, low-engagement approach with operators and Denmark's model of continuous dialogue and cooperation. He questioned which of those relationships the new Finnish authority will adopt.
He estimated Finland has lost approximately €600–900 million a year in gambling revenues to foreign operators, saying control had been lost and that new systems are required to bring operators to Finland.
Political shift and timeline
Wallinheimo said political attitudes changed rapidly once problems with the monopoly and migrating play to foreign sites became clearer. He observed that five or six years ago Veikkauksen monopoly was seen as effectively permanent, but support for opening the market grew as the old system proved ineffective. The licensing market is scheduled to open in July 2027, leaving under eight months from his 6 November 2026 interview.
The reporting source was iGaming Business (Jake Nordland, 6 November 2026). For regulatory coverage see regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sinuhe Wallinheimo's main concern about the reform?
Wallinheimo's main concern is that Finland does not yet have the supervisory capacity to make the new gambling regulator operational before the licensing market opens in July 2027. He made the comment at the SiGMA event in Rome and told iGaming Business on 6 November 2026 that work started only now may not suffice.
When does the Finnish licensing market open?
The licensing market is scheduled to open in July 2027. Wallinheimo noted the timeline during his 6 November 2026 interview and said under eight months remain until the opening date.
How much revenue does Wallinheimo say Finland loses to foreign operators?
Wallinheimo estimated Finland loses approximately €600–900 million annually in gambling revenues to foreign operators. He used that figure to argue for new systems to attract operators to Finland.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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