Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has published draft regulations for the upcoming online gambling market, establishing mandatory return-to-player rates and strict stake limits. The rules are scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2027 following a public consultation period.
The proposed framework prohibits autoplay and auto-spin functions for electronic slot-style games, requiring players to manually initiate each round. Every spin must run for a minimum of 2.5 seconds, with operators barred from offering animation shortcuts. The draft also mandates play-time notifications every 15 minutes, prompting users to confirm continued play or exit their session, while player-versus-player casino games remain exempt.
Uniform deadlines for prize claims and transparency rules for non-influential player choices are included to standardise game mechanics.
Financial Limits and Return-to-Player Standards
Operators must adhere to fixed return-to-player ranges across all product categories. Slot machines and casino table games will operate within a 70% to 99.9% RTP window, daily-draw betting products between 50% and 70%, and online betting offerings between 55% and 80%. Player protection measures introduce age-based stake caps for online slots, setting maximum bets at €10 per spin for users under 25 and €20 for older players.
Physical slot terminals will face a daily loss limit of €500, a monthly cap of €2,000, and an annual threshold outlined in the full proposal.
The regulations stem from the recently enacted Gambling Act (10/2026) and aim to clarify player safeguards ahead of the market’s liberalisation. Industry participants have already submitted up to 50 licence applications. Antti Koivula, chief commercial officer at Hippos ATG, noted that the framework is "Restrictive, but not quite Germany.
Perhaps not even the Netherlands, at least not yet." The Ministry will review public and stakeholder feedback until 5 August 2026 before finalising the rules.