Paf joins the Finnish Gaming Association as Finland prepares for market opening in 2026

Paf has joined Rahapeliala ry, the Finnish Gaming Association, as Finland moves toward a new gambling framework that is expected to open the market to sports betting and online casino operators. The membership gives the company a formal seat next to Veikkaus and other sector decision makers just as centralized limits and illegal gambling enforcement are becoming part of the policy debate.

1. Paf announced the move during the Åktoberfest seminar in Helsinki, Finland, where the discussion centered on centralized limits and pushing back against the illegal gambling market. The event also included the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and KKV Research Director Riku Buri.
2. Speaking on the membership, Paf SVP Public Affairs Sverker Skogberg said the industry needs to communicate its common challenges with “one strong, common voice,” and said Paf expects the association’s work to strengthen as Finland approaches next year’s market opening.
3. Finnish Gaming Association CEO Mika Kuismanen said Paf brings significant expertise and experience to the association. He also said Paf played a significant role in the preparation of the new Gambling Act and that the two sides will now work even more closely together.
4. At the seminar, Riku Buri argued that blocking the illegal gambling market should be a priority, along with gaming limits that apply to all gaming companies. For PSPs and operators, that is the part that matters: market access is one thing, but the compliance perimeter around limits and enforcement is what usually decides how a launch actually works.
5. Paf has already been pushing this direction for years. It became the first global company to introduce a mandatory loss limit in 2018, and the limit for individuals aged 25 or older in 2026 was adjusted to €15,000 per year, further reducing it.

The point for high-risk payment providers is simple enough: Finland is not just talking about opening the market, it is also talking about how tightly that market will be controlled. In practice, that means licensing, limits, and illegal-site blocking will shape the acquiring and payment setup as much as the operator roster.