Finnish operator Veikkaus will pay approximately €1bn as compensation for a ten-year extension of its exclusive lottery rights. The payment falls in 2026, mostly as an advance. The company reported profit up 2% to €234.2m in H1 2026.
In December 2025 the Finnish parliament voted to liberalise the market: from 1 July 2027 Veikkaus loses its monopoly on online betting and iGaming, retaining only lotteries. The operator has applied for a licence to compete on the open market alongside more than 50 other companies. CEO Olli Sarekoski called the number expected.
Total revenue rose 1% from €466.4m to €471.3m. Lotteries still account for 67.7% of turnover, but the share of betting and iGaming grew. GGR in that segment climbed 3% from €146.5m to €151.6m. A year earlier H1 revenue had fallen 3.6%, making the reversal notable. Sarekoski said investment in digital channels is paying off.
Veikkaus is preparing for competition: it has split the business into two subsidiaries, one for lotteries and one for the licensed market. The data and AI unit is cutting 15 positions and creating 17 new ones. VP of HR Reija Airas attributed the change to shifting priorities and the need for new skills.
The operator has also joined Rahapeliala ry, the Finnish industry association founded in 2022 ahead of the reform. The association's CEO Mika Kuismanen called Veikkaus membership important for industry representation.
