If you care about Finland’s opening iGaming market, this is the week to be in Helsinki. The Finnish iGaming Conference returns September 11–12, 2025 at Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, bringing together operators, suppliers, media, and policy experts to decode the new Gambling Act and Finland’s move to a licensing system. Expect practical briefings (legal, tax, marketing), C-suite panels (Veikkaus, PAF, Bejoynd), and high-signal networking—capped by evening mixers on the waterfront.
Event at a Glance
- What: Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 — Finland’s leading international iGaming forum
- When: Thursday–Friday, 11–12 September 2025
- Where: Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, Helsinki (waterfront, 10 mins’ drive from center)
- Language: English
- Why now: Finland’s Gambling Act is moving toward licensing starting 1 January 2027; B2B licensing slated for 2028. The conference provides concrete guidance on requirements, timelines, and market impact.
- Format: Two conference days + evening networking (cocktails & dinner), exhibition pods positioned next to coffee/networking areas for maximum deal flow.
Why 2025 Matters (and what’s on the line)
Finland’s gambling model is transitioning from a monopoly to a licensing system. The draft law has already moved through the EU notification phase, with parliamentary handling scheduled ahead of the event. By September, stakeholders expect clearer answers on market structure, channelization (including the role of affiliates), tax and compliance demands, and the timeline toward 2027 go-live (with B2B elements following in 2028).
What that means for your roadmap:
- Operators & brands: clarity on licensing steps, acceptable marketing, sponsorship rules, RG standards, and paths to channel customers into the licensed market.
- Suppliers & payments: insight into certification and B2B licensing, plus what operators will need on day one (KYC, AML, player protection, A2A payments, affordability tooling).
- Media & affiliates: guardrails for responsible marketing and the debate around affiliate participation in a channelization model.
Tickets & Inclusions
There are two pass types. Both include all daytime content plus hosted lunches, dinner and refreshments across the two conference days.
2-Day Standard Pass — €980 + VAT
- Access to both conference days
- Two lunches + dinner + refreshments
- Non-transferable
2-Day Supplier Pass — €1,980 + VAT
- Everything in Standard, plus promotional entitlements:
- Exhibition placement in/adjacent to the coffee networking area
- Roll-up banner (approx. 200 cm × 84 cm) area
- Ad placement on the event website (digital assets provided by the supplier)
Important: Due to the Finnish Lotteries Act, foreign B2C gambling operators cannot be accepted as promo placement or sponsors. (They can still attend on standard passes; the restriction is on promotional inventory.)
Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 – Full Agenda (with times)
Timezone: local Helsinki (EEST).
Final program is subject to minor updates by the organizer; the following reflects the current published schedule.
Day One — Thursday, September 11
- 09:00 — Registration & coffee
- 10:00 — Conference Day One starts
- Opening words: Tere Sammallahti, Member of Parliament
- 10:10 — The New Lottery Act — Jari Vähänen (Finnish Gambling Consultants)
- 11:00 — The Perspective: How the New Law Affects the Industry — Mika Kuismanen (Finnish Trade Association for Online Gambling)
- 11:20 — The Perspective: Is it possible to have a channeling licensing system without affiliates? — Reijo Anttila (Finnish Gambling Consultants)
- 11:50 — Networking coffee break — Meet suppliers
- 12:15 — Legal Briefing & Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Minna Ripatti (Legal Gaming)
- Panelists: Pekka Ilmivalta (Nordic Legal), Laura Liehu (Legal Gaming), Jose Forslund
- 13:00 — Lunch (hosted by Finnplay)
- 14:00 — Marketing & Sponsorships: New Rules, New Strategies
- The Finnish Gambler & Marketing’s Multiplier Effect — Jenni Lieto (Sanoma)
- Sponsorship & Gambling Data — Klaus Virkkunen (Sponsor Insight Finland)
- Passion Marketing — Jere Virtanen (Passiofy)
- 14:45 — Panel: Responsible Marketing in iGaming
- Moderator: Jenni Lieto
- Panel: Christoph Wilk (Bauer Media), Joonas Partanen (Alma Media), Teemu Savolainen (Sanoma), Klaus Virkkunen (Sponsor Insight)
- 15:30 — Networking coffee break — Meet suppliers
- 16:00 — Responsible Gaming (panel)
- Stephen Aupy (Mindway AI), Lassi Rajamäki (Sosped Foundation), Heikki Koivula (Legal Gaming), Niklas Bondestam (Commit)
- 16:30 — Insights from Denmark: Market developments after licensing transition — Mikael Bäcke (CEO, Bet25.dk)
- 17:00 — Closing remarks
- 18:00 — Cocktails (sponsored by Finnplay)
- 18:30 — Spotlight: Brian Forth (Finnplay Technologies)
- 19:00 — Dinner (sponsored by Air Dice)
Day Two — Friday, September 12
- 09:00 — Morning coffee — meet suppliers
- 09:30 — Conference Day Two starts
- 09:30 — B2B license coming in 2028 — what it means for operators & providers
- Keynote: Jaakko Soininen (Finnplay)
- Panel: Vasilije Lekovic (Trustly), Timo Kiiskinen (Fennica Gaming), Dainis Niedra (Entain), Roope Lindroos (Trumo)
- 10:45 — Networking coffee break — meet suppliers
- 11:15 — Gaming Operators’ CEO Panel
- Moderator: Jari Vähänen
- Christer Fahlstedt (CEO, PAF), Olli Sarekoski (CEO, Veikkaus), Fredrik Cedell (CEO, Bejoynd)
- 12:15 — Closing remarks — Laura Sandström (Finnish iGaming Events)
- 12:30 — Lunch
- 13:30 — End of conference
Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 – Key Speakers & Roles
- Olli Sarekoski — CEO, Veikkaus (Operators’ CEO panel)
- Christer Fahlstedt — CEO, PAF (Operators’ CEO panel)
- Fredrik Cedell — CEO, Bejoynd (Operators’ CEO panel)
- Mika Kuismanen — CEO, Finnish Trade Association for Online Gambling (How the new law affects the industry)
- Jari Vähänen — Co-founder, Finnish Gambling Consultants (New Lottery Act; CEO panel moderator)
- Pekka Ilmivalta — Attorney-at-law, Nordic Legal (Legal briefing & panel)
- Minna Ripatti — Founding Partner, Legal Gaming Attorneys (Moderator, legal panel)
- Mikael Bäcke — CEO, Bet25.dk (Denmark insights)
- Stephen Aupy — Mindway AI (Responsible Gaming panel)
- Lassi Rajamäki — Sosped Foundation (Responsible Gaming panel)
- Jenni Lieto — Sanoma; Klaus Virkkunen — Sponsor Insight; Jere Virtanen — Passiofy (Marketing track)
- Jaakko Soininen — Managing Director, Finnplay (B2B license keynote)
- Vasilije Lekovic — Trustly; Timo Kiiskinen — Fennica Gaming; Dainis Niedra — Entain; Roope Lindroos — Trumo (B2B panel)
Exhibition & Promo Rules (read this before you book)
Exhibition pods and banner placements sit inside or adjacent to the coffee networking zones—deliberately where traffic is heaviest. That gives suppliers face-time during breaks without needing a vast stand build. Supplier Pass includes pod + roll-up banner area + website ad slot (you supply the creative).
Compliance note: Because of the Finnish Lotteries Act, foreign B2C operators may not purchase promo placements or sponsorships at this event. (This is not a restriction on attendance for standard delegates.)
Venue & Travel (Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa)
- Setting: Waterfront hotel in a quiet, green district with its own sauna, pool, private beach, and large garden areas—perfect for informal chats.
- Distance: ~10 minutes’ drive from central Helsinki.
- Public transport: Saunalahdentie tram stop is roughly 400 m away; Helsinki Central Station is about 25 minutes by tram.
- Rooms: Guests can access a discounted rate after registration (details are issued with your confirmation).
- Dining: Breakfast at Oceana; sea-view terrace at Meritorppa—good spots for morning and sunset meetings.
Who Should Attend (and what you get out of it)
- Operators & brands (Nordic/EU/global): decision-grade read on the new law; how to plan channelization; marketing & sponsorship do’s/don’ts; supplier landscape for 2027.
- Suppliers (platforms, payments, KYC/RG, data): what will be required to support licensed operations; B2B licensing expectations (2028) and routes to market; who’s buying, when, and why.
- Media, affiliates & adtech: new rules for responsible marketing; practical media mixes that fit Finnish culture and regulation; the debate around affiliates in a channelization regime.
- Policy & RG professionals: cross-functional panels with Veikkaus, PAF, media houses, and Mindway AI on player protection and market integrity.
Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 ROI Playbook
- Before you fly: Book 10–12 x 20-minute meetings around the two coffee breaks each day and the cocktail hour. Decide your three asks (e.g., “licensing prep partners,” “A2A payments integration,” “Finnish media mix”).
- Bring a one-pager: Finland go-to-market, compliance readiness, integrations, and a scannable QR to your Calendly.
- Use the tracks as anchors:
- Legal blocks (Thu 12:15, Fri 09:30) to qualify must-have requirements.
- Marketing & sponsorships (Thu 14:00–15:15) to map acquisition in a sensitive market.
- Responsible gaming (Thu 16:00) to align your RG narrative with Finnish expectations.
- Evening events = deal accelerators: Thursday cocktails (18:00) and dinner (19:00) are when multi-party threads consolidate.
- Close the loop onsite: Convert warm conversations into next-day chats (hotel lobby/terrace). Send your recap emails within 24 hours and propose dates.
FAQ – Finnish iGaming Conference 2025
Is the event in English?
Yes, the conference is conducted in English.
Exact dates and daily hours?
September 11–12, 2025. Day One opens 10:00 and runs through evening networking and dinner; Day Two runs 09:30–13:30 with lunch at 12:30.
What’s included in my ticket?
Both pass types include all sessions plus lunches, dinner, and refreshments on both days. Supplier Pass adds promo/exhibition entitlements.
Can foreign brands promote on site?
Foreign B2C operators cannot purchase promotional placements or sponsorships due to the Lotteries Act. (Attendance on standard tickets is fine.)
Where exactly is the venue?
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, waterfront district; ~10 minutes’ drive from central Helsinki, 25 minutes by tram from Helsinki Central Station.
Any hotel discount?
Yes—attendees receive a Hilton discount link after registration.
Who’s speaking?
Confirmed speakers include Veikkaus, PAF, Bejoynd, Finnplay, Trustly, Entain, Fennica Gaming, Mindway AI, leading legal counsel and media houses (Sanoma, Alma, Bauer).
Dress code?
Business casual for daytime; smart-casual for evening events.
Conclusion: Your Two Days to Get Finland-Ready
If Finland is on your 2026–2028 roadmap, Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 is the shortest path to clarity. In two concentrated days you’ll hear directly from the voices shaping the market—lawyers behind the new Lottery Act, CEOs from Veikkaus, PAF, Bejoynd, and hands-on specialists in responsible marketing, RG/safer gambling, payments, and B2B licensing. With lunches, dinner, and coffee breaks built into the ticket, the event’s design turns every hour into meeting time—without the noise of a huge expo.
Your next moves
- Choose your pass: Standard for content + hosted F&B; Supplier if you need on-site promo/exhibition (noting that foreign B2C operators can’t buy promo inventory under Finnish law).
- Set three objectives: e.g., “Licensing timeline & obligations,” “Finnish media mix that meets RG rules,” “Payments/KYC partners for launch.”
- Map the must-see blocks: legal briefings, marketing & sponsorships, responsible gaming, B2B 2028 keynote/panel, and the Operators’ CEO session.
- Pre-book 10–12 meetings around the coffee breaks and evening cocktail/dinner windows; bring a one-pager and scannable QR for follow-ups.
- Leave with commitments: document action owners and dates; send recap emails within 24 hours.
Snapper: Miss this September window and you’ll spend months piecing together the same answers from scattered sources. Arrive prepared—leave Helsinki with a Finland-ready plan.
Finnish iGaming Conference 2025 – Essential Links:
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