Betsson suspended in Finland
Betsson has become the first MGA-licensed online gambling operator to be blacklisted by Finland’s National Police Board (NPB). This means that all brands of the gambling hegemon will cease to operate in Finland.
Betsson has become the first MGA-licensed online gambling operator to be blacklisted by Finland’s National Police Board (NPB). This means that all brands of the gambling hegemon will cease to operate in Finland.
This was confirmed when Betsson’s parent company, BML Group, became the first gaming company to appear on the publicly available NPB blacklist. Importantly, the list also includes 14 brands belonging to the Betsson Group, including the most popular brands such as: Betsson, Star Casino and Betsafe.
Being on the list means that all banks, payment service providers and cryptocurrency companies are obliged to block payments from Finland to blacklisted companies. Suppliers who fail to comply with this order face government fines and sanctions. This de facto means that Betsson will not be able to continue its illegal activities in Finland.
Lost case in court
The above information came after Betsson lost its case against NPB in a Finnish court on February 19.
Let us recall that Betsson appealed against the decision of NPB, which in May 2023 imposed a record fine of EUR 2.4 million for illegal operations on the Finnish market. According to the services, Betsson advertised widely in Finland, thus violating the country’s gambling law, under which the state-owned Veikkaus has a monopoly on gaming activities.
The operator received a temporary reprieve from the penalty in June 2023, when the Helinski Administrative Court ruled that it did not have to pay until Betsson exhausted the appeal process.
Licenses in Finland from 2026
The NPB blacklist of gaming companies was announced in December 2022 as part of an enforcement action aimed at protecting the market. It is widely believed that the Finnish monopoly model has failed to meet its objectives in terms of combating the gray economy. According to a government report from 2023, approximately 50% of traffic is directed to offshore operators.
In 2023, the government published a study recommending the introduction of an international licensing model or increased enforcement efforts to improve the fight against the shadow economy.
After the April elections, which resulted in the formation of a coalition led by the Social Democratic Party, the new government published a political program in which it committed to introducing a licensing model by 2026.
Without a doubt, Betsson’s presence on the NPB blacklist may complicate the operator’s efforts to obtain a license after the new regulations come into force.
Betsson will appeal to the Supreme Court
According to NEXT.io, Betsson’s spokesman criticized the court’s ruling and stated that the company actually intends to appeal the case to the Supreme Administrative Court: – It should be emphasized that the BML Group fully cooperates with the authorities (NPB). It is equally important that BML Group fully complies with the order issued by the country’s central bank and does not have an offer to Finland.
– It is our understanding that the BML group should not be penalized in Finland due to our compliance with the said order. BML Group intends to appeal against the judgment of the Administrative Court of Finland to the Supreme Court of Finland, added Betsson’s spokesman.
The spokesman also praised the commitment of the Finnish government for its willingness to introduce a licensing system.
