Finland says 2026 illegal gambling marketing enforcement is running above prior years

Finland’s National Police Board said on 14 October that it had already issued four prohibition decisions and six conditional fines in 2026 for illegal gambling marketing, with the prohibition decisions covering activity on websites and social media. The authority said this year’s total is clearly higher than in previous years. [1]

According to the board, the conditional fines linked to those prohibition decisions have ranged from €30,000 to €200,000 for natural persons and from €100,000 to €1.2 million for companies. It also said conditional fines that have been ordered to be paid were imposed on natural persons and ranged from €20,000 to €100,000. [1]

The release points to a regulatory focus on digital promotion. The board said the prohibition decisions in 2026 have covered gambling marketing on websites and social media, and it added that illegal gambling games are typically marketed on social media platforms and through gaming and gambling livestreams. [1]

The authority said this kind of marketing may seek to attract consumers in mainland Finland as customers and encourage them to participate in gambling there. The statement therefore frames the current enforcement around customer acquisition activity directed at mainland Finland rather than around any named operator or campaign. [1]

The consulted release does not identify the companies or individuals subject to the 2026 prohibition decisions or conditional fines. It also does not provide prior-year figures, so while the board says enforcement is running above earlier years, the size of that increase is not quantified in the published statement. [1]

Sources

• [1] Police: National Police Board has imposed more fines and prohibitions than earlier for marketing in violation of the Lotteries Act