Wildz Group says it has received approval for a Finnish gambling licence, making it the first operator to announce authorisation ahead of the market’s 2027 opening. The company says the five-year licence will allow it to offer gambling products when Finland’s regulated online market launches on 1 July 2027.
Wildz announces approval ahead of launch
The Malta-based group said the Finnish National Police Board (NPB) had granted the authorisation. However, the NPB has not publicly confirmed the reported approval, according to LCB, so Wildz’s announcement remains the basis for the claim that it is first.
The company operates Wildz alongside Blingi, Caxino, Chipz, Spinz, Tuplaus and Wheelz, and also offers the Wildz Sports sportsbook. Its stated five-year term would cover operations in the new market once the licence regime takes effect; the approval does not mean Finland’s licensed market is already open.
Wildz chief executive Sam Brown welcomed the development in comments reported by GamblingNews. He said the company’s brands aim to offer Finnish players a safe and engaging product, and noted that the group was looking ahead to the July 2027 launch.
Finland prepares to end online gambling monopoly
Finland is moving from a state-controlled gambling model to a licensing system for parts of the online market. The change is scheduled for 1 July 2027, with applications accepted from March 2026. Veikkaus’ existing exclusive position will not disappear across every gambling product: the opening applies to specified online activities, while some products remain outside the competitive framework.
Interest in the new regime has been substantial. GamblingNews reported that about 75 companies had applied, while other figures cited by Finnish media have put the total close to 80. Operators including LeoVegas and Betsson have also expressed interest in entering the market. Each application carries a €29,000 fee, according to the reporting.
The transition places Finland among Nordic jurisdictions reshaping online gambling through licensing and supervision. Denmark’s regulated gambling market offers a regional point of comparison as operators assess the commercial conditions of licensed Nordic markets.
Further decisions expected before 2027
The NPB is continuing to process applications, and other operators may announce approvals before the market opens. For now, Wildz’s statement establishes it as the first company to publicly report receiving authorisation, rather than a publicly verified first award confirmed by the regulator.
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Wildz reports a Finnish gambling licence ahead of Finland’s 1 July 2027 online market launch, though the regulator has not confirmed it.
The post Wildz reports Finnish gambling licence ahead of 2027 launch appeared first on CasinoBeats.