Wildz Group says it has the first licence for Finland's new online market
Wildz Group announced on 15 October 2026 that it holds a licence for Finland's online gambling market, which opens to private operators on 1 July 2027. The Finnish regulator had not publicly confirmed the licence at the time of reporting.
A Finnish licence has no bearing on the legal status of an operator in South Africa, where no remote casino licence exists. The story is a reminder to check which licences matter to you: one issued in Europe does not mean an operator is licensed here, and it does not guarantee how South African players are treated.
What was announced
Malta-based Wildz Group said on 15 October 2026 that it has received a licence to offer online gambling in Finland once the market opens on 1 July 2027. iGaming Business reported that it appears to be the first operator to say publicly that it holds one of the new Finnish licences.
A company board member also stated that the licence takes effect on 1 July 2027. The Finnish National Supervisory Authority, which is handling applications, had not publicly confirmed this or any other outcome when the report was published, so for now this rests on the operator's own statement.
Background on Finland's reform
Finland has run online gambling as a state-owned monopoly, with Veikkaus as the operator. A reform will let private companies compete from July 2027. The application window opened in March 2026, and iGaming Business reports that 75 applications had been filed by 22 September, well above early expectations. Each application carried a processing fee of 29,000 euros.
Analysts quoted in the report warn that if most applicants succeed, a country of Finland's size could end up with more operators than it can support.
What it means for South African players
Nothing changes for South African players today. A Finnish licence covers Finland, and holding one does not make an operator licensed in South Africa. It is worth keeping the distinction clear: an operator can hold a respected licence somewhere and still not be licensed here, even if it accepts South African players.
The wider lesson is that Europe keeps moving from monopolies to licensing, with player protection conditions attached. Operators that win those licences face tougher checks on limits and marketing, which can raise standards across their other brands. That is a possibility, not a promise, and we make no claim about how any specific casino treats South African players. See our casino reviews for what we have and have not verified.
What to watch next
The key event is the Finnish authority publishing its list of licence decisions, which has no confirmed date. The market itself opens on 1 July 2027. We will report if the regulator confirms the first licences.