Wildz Group Claims Finland's First Online Gambling License

Wildz Group says Finland's National Police Board approved it on Oct. 15 to offer online gambling to Finnish players, making it the first company to announce a license under the country's new system.

Finland is ending a state gambling monopoly that has run for more than 80 years. From July 1, 2027, licensed private companies can offer sports betting, online casino games and online slots. The board had received 75 license applications by Sept. 22 and had approved none of them at that point, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.

Wildz Gets Five Years From July 2027

The board sent the company a formal letter on Oct. 15 granting permission to serve Finnish players for five years from July 1, 2027, according to Wildz Group's announcement. The group runs the Wildz, Caxino, Wheelz, Spinz, Chipz, Tuplaus and Blingi casinos, plus the Wildz Sports sportsbook.

So far the approval has been announced only by the company. FairGambling could not confirm it with the board, which runs licensing through its gambling administration until the market opens.

Chief Executive Sam Brown called it "a welcome reward for all the efforts of the team in the application process" and said the group is "looking forward to July 2027."

Finnish Players Get New Protections as Rivals Wait

Every licensed site will have to verify players with strong identity checks and honor a single self-exclusion register covering all licensed operators, according to a guide by Finnish law firm Krogerus. Influencer marketing will be banned.

Operators will pay a 22% tax on what they keep after paying out winnings, Yle reported. State-owned Veikkaus keeps sole rights to lotteries, scratchcards and land-based slots and casinos.

Decisions take six to eight months, according to multiple industry reports, so most of the other 74 applicants are still waiting.

Treat gambling as entertainment you pay for. 18+, and if it stops feeling like entertainment, help exists at BeGambleAware and GamCare.