Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2024) 2943
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2024/0601/FI
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20242943.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2024 0601 FI EN 01-11-2024 FI NOTIF
2. Finland
3A. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö
Työllisyys ja toimivat markkinat -osasto
PL 32
FI-00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO
Puhelin +358 (0)295 504 7261, maaraykset.tekniset.tem@gov.fi
3B. Sisäministeriö
PL 26
00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO
Yhteyshenkilöt:
Neuvotteleva virkamies Elina Rydman
+358 (0)295 488 586
4. 2024/0601/FI - H10 - Games of chance
5. Draft government proposal to Parliament for legislation on a new gambling system
6. Gambling services
7.
8. The proposal suggests the enactment of a new Gambling Act. The Act would lay down provisions on gambling operations and their supervision. The operation of gambling would be subject to licence. Gambling activities could be conducted under an exclusive licence or a gambling licence. The Act would lay down provisions on the forms of gambling operations for which such licences could be granted. In addition, the supply of gambling software used in the operation of gambling would require a gambling software licence. Licensees should exclusively use gambling software supplied by gambling software licence holders in the gambling they operate. Holders of a gambling software licence should not supply gambling software to gambling operators that operate or market gambling without a licence, in violation of the Gambling Act.
The Act would lay down the conditions for granting licences and the procedure for applying for licences. The exclusive licence would be valid for ten years, and the gambling licence and gambling software licence for not more than five years. The Act would provide for the obligation of the holder of an exclusive licence to pay compensation to the State for the exclusive licence and the criteria for determining the amount of compensation.
The Gambling Act would include provisions on the registration of players and the verification of their identity and place of residence. Among other things, the Act would lay down provisions on the age limit for gambling, gambling using a gambling account and other forms of identity verification required for gambling, as well as on self-exclusion and restrictions on gambling. The Act would contain provisions on marketing, prohibited marketing methods, information to be provided in connection with marketing, sponsorship, and direct marketing bans.
The bill proposes a wide range of powers for the supervisory authority. The Act would lay down provisions on the annual supervisory fee to be paid by licence holders to cover the costs of supervision and on the criteria for determining the fee. In order to address illegal activities, the Act would also provide for administrative penalties, which would include a ban on the operation and marketing of gambling, the withdrawal of a licence, and penalty payments to enforce certain decisions by the authorities. The Act would provide for the restriction of supply and marketing outside the licensing system in order to prevent gambling-related harms and to steer demand towards activities regulated by the proposed Act. In addition to administrative penalties against supply outside the licensing system, it is proposed to provide for the right of the supervisory authority to order the removal of illegal online content relating to the operation and marketing of gambling or the removal of a domain name containing such content.
The Gambling Act would lay down provisions on the duty of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to monitor, investigate and assess gambling and the harms caused by it. The National Institute for Health and Welfare would carry out these tasks in accordance with the mandate of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Government grants could be awarded for the prevention and reduction of gambling-related harms.
As a result of the transition to a licensing system, it is proposed to also amend the Lotteries Act, the Lottery Tax Act, the Income Tax Act, the Criminal Code, and certain other acts. In accordance with the proposed amendment to the Lottery Tax Act, the uniform tax rate for gambling activities in Finland would be 22 %. In accordance with the proposed amendment to the Income Tax Act, winnings from gambling offered without a licence would be taxable income. In addition, all licence holders established in Finland would in future be treated the same for the purposes of corporate taxation.
The bill is related to the draft State budget for 2026 and is intended to be reviewed in connection with the draft budget. The Gambling Act and other proposed acts are mainly intended to enter into force on 1 July 2026 at the earliest, but no later than 1 January 2027, when licensed gambling activities could begin. However, the provisions of the Gambling Act concerning the application for a licence and the conditions for granting a licence, the authorities’ right to information relating to the licence procedure, and the compensation paid to the State for an exclusive licence would enter into force at the beginning of 2026.
9. The current exclusive right of the state-owned Veikkaus Oy covers all forms of gambling. This exclusive right would be partially revoked. Online betting, casino games and machine gambling, where a large part of use takes place outside the gambling system, would be opened to competition. Lottery-type gambling, instant win scratch cards, gambling machines and casino operations, where consumption is oriented towards the current system, would remain subject to an exclusive licence. The new gambling system would be based on licences. An exclusive licence could be granted to a limited company controlled by the State. The aim is to channel existing demand into a legally regulated gambling system. In the new gambling system, which aims at a high degree of channelling, it is proposed to combat the harmful effects of gambling, among other things, by means of self-exclusion, spending limits, and regulation of the characteristics and marketing of games.
10. Basic text references: No Basic Text exists
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. Yes
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
