Other obligations related to gambling activities

Amendment notifications

Make a written notification of any material changes that affect the licence.

Before you make a notification, check whether the amendment notification alone is sufficient or whether the matter requires an amendment application.

You can write a free-form notification in either Finnish or Swedish. Send the notification to the National Police Board using the online service or by email or post. We recommend that you primarily use the online service.

The amendment notification must be made within two weeks of the change taking place. The notification obligation covers any change in the licence holder or its activities, ownership, executive management, or financial operating conditions. In addition, the transfer of control over a legal entity must always be reported.

In practice, an amendment notification is usually made when the subject of the amendment is something that is mentioned in the licence application but not in the actual licence decision. Notifications can be submitted for minor things, such as a new billing address or updated articles of association.

A typical reason for an amendment notification is a change in the significant shareholders or executive management of the licence holder. In addition, there may be a change of software supplier or agent, a change in the brand names used for marketing, a change of agents, or a change in the applicant's organisational structure.

A notification must also be submitted for any fines, criminal convictions, bankruptcies, business prohibitions or other changes in the solvency of the licence holder or its significant shareholders and people in positions of responsibility identified in the application.

Notification of changes in personnel

Submit an amendment notification for all material changes in personnel. Material changes in personnel for the purposes of the licence are changes in the significant shareholders or executive management. The supervisory authority will assess whether these individuals are fit and proper as part of the licence supervision process. Report changes in the following:

• The members and deputy members of the applicant's Board of Directors
• The applicant’s significant shareholders (25% or more of the voting rights, ownership or control)
• The CEO
• The members of the management team
• Other members of the applicant's executive management.

The other members of the licence holder’s executive management may include the people responsible for business operations, such as the licence holder’s financial, technical, marketing or compliance affairs, general partners or other senior managers.

For each person referred to above, state the first name, last name, role in the legal entity, and Finnish personal ID code or, if not available, date of birth. In addition, the following documents must be provided as a separate attachment for all individuals who do not have a Finnish personal ID code:

• Proof of the person’s record of fines and criminal record 
• A certificate of their tax debt balance or an equivalent document
• A certificate of their enforcement status or an equivalent document
• A certificate stating whether the person is disqualified from doing business.

The record of fines must cover the preceding three years, and the criminal record must cover the preceding five years. A different certificate that confirms whether the person has been sentenced to a fine or imprisonment for a criminal offence in the preceding five years may also be accepted as sufficient proof.

Certificates of fulfilment of obligations should indicate whether the person concerned has neglected to pay their taxes or other statutory charges, has debts in enforcement, is disqualified from doing business, or is bankrupt. If necessary, other certificates, registers or official documents can demonstrate fitness and propriety.

All the official documents, certificates and registrations proving fitness and propriety must state the name and contact details of the authority that issued the document. The attachments must be up to date (no older than 6 months).

You can submit information about new people in positions of responsibility and significant shareholders to the National Police Administration via the Police Secure Mail service.

Registration obligation

Submit your business ID to the supervisory authority no later than three months after you start providing gambling services. You can get a business ID by registering with the Business Information System. Every operator, including foreign operators, must have a business ID for the lottery tax return.

The Tax Administration’s website provides information about establishing a company and the notifications required.

Disclosure obligation when providing gambling services

The holder of a gambling licence or an exclusive licence has a legal obligation to provide players with certain information about gambling.

Always provide the following information when providing gambling services: 

• Your licence number
• The supervisory authority
• The age limit for gambling.

Please note that the above information helps players and other citizens to distinguish between legal and illegal gambling activities. Put the information on display so that no one has to search for it.

Also, state where to find information: 
•    Tools for managing gambling problems
•    Service providers who can help with gambling problems

Make it clear that players can self-impose gambling restrictions.

State that gamblers can always set a gambling restriction for themselves. Note that this information must always be available and easy to find. In the same context, offer a direct link or other easy way for the player to set a restriction if they wish.

In addition, make the following information available to players:

• Gambling rules and instructions
• Price
• Probability of winning
• Draw frequency 
• Assessment of the risk of harm
• Other relevant information 

Provide all the information listed above in both Finnish and Swedish. Use clear language and text that is large enough to read. Put the information in a place where players can see it and access its contents.

Revocation of a licence at the licence holder’s request

You can ask the supervisory authority to revoke your licence if you no longer wish to provide gambling services and want to surrender the licence. Revoking the licence is free of charge.

Make a free-form revocation request in either Finnish or Swedish. Send your request to the supervisory authority using the online service or by email or post. We recommend that you primarily use the online service.

The revocation request must be signed. The revocation request can be signed either physically or electronically. The electronic signature must be at least an advanced electronic signature in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014).

If the licence holder is a legal entity registered abroad, attach an up-to-date extract from the trade register or register of associations or foundations.

Revoking a licence is important if the licence holder no longer wishes to meet the obligations of the licence. Otherwise, the obligations remain in force. For example, the annual supervision fee must be paid and the reporting obligation fulfilled even if no gambling activity is organised and the licence has proved to be unnecessary.