Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has published draft regulations for its incoming licensed online gambling market, introducing a sweeping set of player protection measures.
The proposals form part of Finland’s transition away from its long-standing gambling monopoly system toward a fully regulated, licensed online market.
A public consultation on the draft decrees will remain open until 5 August, after which the rules will be finalised ahead of the new regime’s planned 2027 launch.
Key measures in the draft include a ban on autoplay features, mandatory 15-minute gameplay reminders, and a €20 per spin stake limit for online slots.
Players under the age of 25 would face stricter limits, with their maximum slot stake capped at €10 per spin under the proposed rules.
The regulations would also require a minimum slot game round duration of 2.5 seconds and prohibit players from speeding up the result of any spin.
Industry observers expect the autoplay ban and mandatory gameplay reminders to attract the most scrutiny from operators during the consultation period.
Antti Koivula, chief compliance officer at Hippos ATG, said the draft largely met expectations, noting: “The draft decrees published yesterday did not bring major surprises.”
Koivula added: “The autoplay ban will probably get the most attention. Personally, I did not find it surprising. Somewhat bigger surprise is the gameplay reminder every 15 minutes, which requires the player to make an active choice between continuing to play and leaving the game.”
The 15-minute reminder mechanism is designed to interrupt gameplay and force players into a conscious decision about whether to continue, rather than playing passively.
Koivula urged any operator considering entering the Finnish market to engage directly with the consultation process before the window closes.
He stated: “Any gambling operator applying for a Finnish licence should take this seriously. This is the moment to comment, challenge, improve and influence the final rules before they are locked in.”
With the consultation period running until early August, operators have a limited but meaningful window to shape the final regulatory framework before it is set in stone.
