TITLE: Finland's Ministry of The Interior Establishes Maximum Betting Limits and Operational Requirements for Licensed Gambling Operators
BODY:
Finland's Ministry of The Interior has drafted a decree establishing maximum betting stakes and operational requirements for gambling licence holders under Section 32(3) of the Gambling Act (10/2026). The decree sets differentiated stake limits across various electronic gambling games, effective July 1, 2027.
For general players, maximum stakes are: €400 per spin in electronic draw and number games; €500 per spin in electronic dice games and card games; €1,000 initial stake in electronic poker; €20 per spin in electronic slot machines; and €20 per spin in electronic bingo. Players under 25 years old face reduced limits: €200 in draw and number games; €250 in dice and card games; and €10 per spin in slot machines and bingo.
Tournament participation fees are capped at €1,000 for most electronic casino tournaments (excluding player-versus-player poker), €5,000 for electronic poker tournaments, and €500 for electronic slot machine tournaments. The decree permits both surprise jackpots and win-combination jackpots, which may be fixed amounts, multiplier-based, or progressive.
The regulation imposes strict controls on electronic slot machines, including mandatory player-initiated stakes and game rounds, a minimum 2.5-second game duration, and prohibitions on near-miss representations or suggestions of imminent wins. Visual presentations must accurately reflect draw results. Operators must inform players when their choices do not affect game outcomes.
All electronic gambling games must include a session time reminder notifying players every 15 minutes of play duration, allowing them to continue or log out. Players can adjust reminder frequency to more frequent intervals. Players in player-versus-player games are exempt from this requirement.
The decree enters into force on July 1, 2027.