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Matti Slotte is our guest today. He has been a legend on the Finnish gambling scene ever since the late 2000s. He is also the editor-in chief of KasinoBonus.io. Matti Slotte will discuss his experiences in regulated and non-regulated casinos accepting Finnish players and his expectations for the licensing regime, which is set to be implemented on or before 1 January 2026.
Welcome, Matti. What can you tell us about yourself?
Hei! Matti Slotte is just 40 years old. Since the beginning of the Finnish gambling industry, I have been actively involved. I was hired by a Finnish casino in 2008, I believe, and worked there for 10 years, still talking to the Finnish players. Then, I quit that job to create my own website which would be a place where all serious players from Finland could hang out and keep it real.
How’s it going? Is your project successful?
It is. They always ask me, “Are you that Matti of the 2000s?” I reply, “Yes, I am. Thanks for noticing.” In this industry, integrity is a virtue because it’s rare. Once people realize that, they’ll trust you. It’s now up to me not to betray this trust. It’s all gone with one little mistake.
What is the current situation of regulation in Finland?
As is usually the case, the government has a monopoly. The government says that the only way to legally gamble is via Veikkaus. However, on the other side, the government is liberal and does not police this decision. They also do not chase offshore operators or bettors who place their bets in these places. Legally, it is a monopoly. In practice, you can gamble anywhere you like and no one will be affected.
Does this make sense for players?
No, it’s not true. When things are too liberal on other markets, people don’t care. In practice, this leads to a lot rogue casinos and predatory operators saying, “hey, Finland is there, we can do anything we want on that marketplace, let’s make some money.” Then there are casinos who always, and I do mean always, follow the rules. These casinos are looking to be regulated. In Finland, they are not as popular because the smaller casinos market more aggressively.
What is the best way for a player to determine if a particular casino is good?
Read KasinoBonus.io reviews. I really mean it. We don’t let the lack of a license or the casino itself influence our review.
What are the current changes in Finland? What will the regulatory landscape look like in 2026?
We are currently seeing a firm intention to implement a licensing system which would allow foreign operators to legally operate on the Finnish gambling markets. It is expected that the parliament will discuss this issue during its spring session in 2025, so we are currently at the consultation phase.
Could you please give us some tips?
Veikkaus does not seem to have a monopoly in any other gambling vertical than the lottery. Sports betting, slot machines, and other casino games will be available to licensees. The regulatory body is mainly concerned about advertising, for example, limiting the accessibility of gambling to minors.
Nothing spectacular, nothing that would be a good headline here?
It’s not how we Finns really do things. The government’s approach is admirable. The government is regulating gambling but not trying to make a splash. The Finnish Supervisory Agency will be able to supervise the operators as they are under the same umbrella. This approach says that less is more and contrasts with what regulators are doing in Germany, Spain, or the UK – they have a tight grip and force operators and players into the black market.
Finland did not have a black-market until recently because everything was legal. Will there be a black market in 2026?
This won’t be finished before 2027. In 2026, they will begin accepting license applications. If we are not careful, we may be facing a black market. There would be a duality between a regulated and black market. But I hope that the licensing system is easy to use and that most operators want a Finnish license.
Do you believe that the optimal number of casinos to be licensed is?
All of them! I would like to see every casino that accepts Finnish players also hold a Finnish Supervisory Agency license. It’s not because I like to follow the rules – i’m not a bookworm – but rather because I have learned that it is better to keep enemies close. It is better to grant a license to a casino, because you can then closely monitor its activities. You can fine, tax, revoke, or protect the player if the casino is not licensed. You can’t do anything if the casino is not licensed. They’re operating in Curacao, with a fake business and a local Notary Public as the director. You will sue whoever steals from a Finnish player. I would much prefer that all of these casinos be licensed. This would be my message for the regulator: take in as many casino as possible.
Thank you, Matti, for this interview.
You are welcome to have me. Hei hei!
