This is the list. What a Finnish gambling licence application has to contain, drawn from the National Police Board's published requirements and from legal commentary on the Act, in the order an applicant assembles it.
Where an item comes from the authority we say so. Where it comes from legal commentary we mark it as reported. Confirm the current form of the application with the Board or with Finnish counsel before filing; requirements are set by regulation and can change.
1. The applicant
Identity and contact details of the applying entity. Legal form. The corporate charter or articles of association. Ownership and management structure, in enough detail to show who ultimately controls the company. Financial status, typically the latest balance sheet and accounts.
The authority assesses whether the applicant is a suitable holder of a licence, and that assessment starts with who it is and who owns it.
2. The people
Extracts from criminal and fine records for the key persons: directors, senior management and beneficial owners. The reliability of the persons responsible is a stated criterion, and this is how it is tested.
Non-Finnish applicants should allow time for this. Equivalent extracts from other jurisdictions have to be obtained and, in some cases, translated and legalised.
3. The business
A description of the business and the planned gambling operations. The requested licence duration, up to the five-year maximum. For a gambling licence, the types of games to be offered.
4. The software
The gaming software to be used and its providers. This matters more than it looks: from 1 July 2028 operators may only use software from licensed providers, and the software licence does not yet exist. An applicant is naming suppliers who cannot yet be licensed, and should understand what that means contractually.
5. The marketing plan
A marketing plan is reported as a required element of a gambling licence application. Given the restrictions on advertising, this is not a formality. A plan built around affiliates, influencers or product promotion is a plan that describes activity the Act is reported to prohibit, and the authority will read it.
6. Representatives
Details of any agents or representatives, with particular relevance for operators established outside the European Economic Area.
7. Player protection and AML
Dispute-resolution procedures for players. Measures for anti-money laundering compliance, demonstrating adherence to the Finnish AML Act. The player protection framework the licence will require, including identification, self-exclusion integration and deposit limits, should be reflected here even where it is not itemised on the form.
8. The fee
€29,000 per application, payable on submission, not refunded on refusal. See our fees guide.
What happens next
The National Police Board states a target processing time of six to eight months and has asked applicants not to request status updates. A granted licence is not permission to launch: independent verification of gambling systems and an integration project with the regulator's supervision system follow, and no services may begin before 1 July 2027.
Status of this guide
The application requirements are drawn from the National Police Board's published information and from published guidance by a Finnish law firm, January 2026. This is a summary of what the application covers, not the application form. Obtain the current form and instructions from the Board.
