Veikkaus Terminates 15 Roles and Adds 17 New Positions as Finland Market Liberalisation Approaches

Veikkaus has announced further internal restructuring as Finland’s gambling market prepares to open to competition on 1 July 2027.

The state-owned operator will terminate 15 existing roles and establish 17 new positions across its Data & AI department, two business units and finance teams. Negotiations on the changes are expected to last approximately three weeks.

H1 2026 Results Show Digital Momentum

Veikkaus reported sales revenue of €471.3 million ($546.8 million) for the first half of 2026, a 1% increase year-on-year. Operating profit rose to €227.7 million from €220.6 million, while profit for the period reached €234.2 million compared with €229.6 million.

Digital gross gaming revenue represented 64.5% of the total, up 3.6 percentage points. Betting and iCasino GGR increased to €151.6 million from €146.5 million. B2B subsidiary Fennica Gaming lifted revenue 80.6% to €10.3 million and now operates in 21 markets.

Licence Application and Structural Changes

The reshuffle builds on Veikkaus’ May 2026 decision to create two subsidiaries, one for exclusive operations and one for the licence-based market. The company has submitted licence applications alongside around 50 other operators, according to reporting by iGaming Business.

It switched its sportsbook backend from DraftKings to OpenBet and appointed Chris Armes as executive VP of Gaming Technologies, effective autumn 2026. In July last year Veikkaus iGaming EVP Jarkko Nordlund told iGB: “The competition will be fierce when the market opens, so we must be very competitive. Our aim is to challenge the mentality of our current position, so we need to secure market leadership.”

Under the Gambling Act ratified in January 2026, Veikkaus retains exclusivity over lottery games, scratchcards, slot machines and physical table games. It will pay around €1 billion in market-based compensation for exclusive operations over a 10-year licence period, with a significant front-loaded payment due in 2026. Industry consultant Jari Vähänen estimated the entire business could be valued at up to €4.5 billion.

Reporting: iGaming Business (iGB)

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