The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 brought together top experts across the iGaming and tech landscape, and Nordic Legal stood out as the event’s Scandinavian Legal Expertise Sponsor. A renowned legal advisory firm in the Nordic region, Nordic Legal continues to shape the future of gambling legislation and compliance in Europe.

In this post-event interview, we caught up with Pekka Ilmivalta, Head of the Finnish Office at Nordic Legal, to dive deeper into the firm’s insights on the upcoming Finnish gambling reform, the legal challenges it poses, and the opportunities it presents for operators preparing to enter the market.

Finland is preparing to launch its regulated gambling sector in January 2026. As an expert with over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, how do you view its draft legislation and the current state of the Finnish gambling market? 

Finns are used to gambling online, and the size of the market is close to 2 billion euros in GGR. As the market share of the national monopoly operator, Veikkaus, has declined to around 50 percent, nearly half of the gambling spending already takes place outside the Finnish regulation. Therefore, the gambling legislation reform is really needed.

The Government Proposal now being dealt with in the Finnish Parliament is generally a comprehensive and a good package. As the political parties are quite unanimous about the need for the reform, I expect the parliamentary discussion to concentrate on the balance between responsibility measures and the features making the market interesting enough for the operators to enter the regulated market. Especially marketing, use of affiliates and bonusing will, and should, be discussed.

I believe that the Parliament will approve the new legislation early next autumn and that the B2C license application process will be able to begin already in January next year.

The Finnish legislative review council has raised concerns about potential increases in gambling harms under the new regulatory framework. What measures do you believe are necessary to mitigate these risks, and how could Finland balance market liberalization with responsible gambling practices?

Personally, I think that gambling harms must be taken seriously. However, as almost half of the Finnish gambling now happens outside the regulated market, I am convinced that succeeding in channelization is a crucial starting point to really mitigate gambling harms. Therefore, attractiveness of the market and measures against the black market are extremely important. Furthermore, self-exclusion and responsible gambling tools are, of course, needed for the players. Generally, I believe that AI assisted monitoring could and will have an important role in preventing harmful gambling in the future. To really work, responsible gambling tools need to be both pragmatic and relevant for each individual player.

Considering Finland’s upcoming gambling reform, what legal and operational challenges should gambling operators be prepared for, particularly regarding compliance and player protection? Which key trends do you see shaping the market’s future?

As it seems now that affiliates and welcome bonuses will be banned, operators will have to find other means to build their brand and acquire customers. Even though traditional marketing and sponsoring are widely acceptable, I would expect to see innovative solutions to stand out from the probable marketing avalanche during the first months after the market opening. Perhaps new kinds of sponsorships or retail activities? Or even enhanced player protection measures to gain a competitive edge?

Overall, I would advise operators to start their market entry preparations early enough. The licensing procedure could take several (6 to 9) months. Also, adjusting to the local technical and player protection requirements might not happen overnight.

What insights could help Finland create a balanced and effective gambling market?

I believe that the new legislation will provide a good enough framework for a functional gambling market. However, based on experiences from Sweden and Denmark, I would point out two practical aspects crucial to making the new legislation effective: First, there needs to be collaboration between licensed operators and the new regulator. Dialogue and a mutual will to find solutions should be the common mindset. Secondly, the regulator hopefully has enough resources (tools, persons and persistence) to interfere with the black-market operations, which will evidently still exist also after the reform.

Nordic Legal has extensive experience advising European governments on regulatory best practices. How can your firm assist operators looking to enter the Finnish market and navigate the evolving legal landscape?

With our deep knowledge of Finnish legislation, extensive experience from regulatory developments in other jurisdictions, and strong industry relationships, we are well-positioned to support operators and B2B suppliers entering the Finnish market. We can offer comprehensive guidance not only on compliance and licensing, but also on navigating strategic challenges, ensuring our clients are well-prepared for a dynamic and shifting legal landscape. Our proactive approach enables us to identify regulatory changes early and help clients stay ahead of industry developments.

In an increasingly digital world, the influence of social media personalities is undeniable, especially within the iGaming industry. To stay competitive and engage with a broader audience, brands must adapt to the growing power of influencers. Recently, the dynamic EEGS Webinar, “The Rising Power of Influencers in iGaming: Use Their Power for Your Success,” brought together key experts to explore how influencers can elevate iGaming brands to new heights. Expert speakers Jekaterina Dubnicka, Alexandra Voronetskaya, and Wojciech Trzaska shared their valuable insights on the nuances of influencer marketing, and how companies can leverage this to succeed.

The Brave Step of Working with Influencers

Alexandra Voronetskaya emphasized how significant the decision to collaborate with influencers is for any company. “When a company decides to work with influencers, it is a very brave step,” she noted. This decision means not only expanding a brand’s visibility but also committing to a much more open communication strategy.

Working with influencers is not just about showcasing a product; it’s about creating an authentic connection. Brands must be prepared for heightened visibility, quicker responses to public feedback, and increased flexibility in their strategies. “You have to answer quicker, you should be more flexible,” Alexandra explained, underscoring the evolving nature of marketing in today’s fast-paced world. This openness can be daunting for some brands, but it can also bring tremendous benefits when executed well.

Getting Real: The Importance of Authenticity

Jekaterina Dubnicka on the other hand delivered a powerful message about the importance of authenticity when collaborating with influencers. “If you decide to go live and public, there is one crucial thing you need to know: No subscriber is interested in your surface. Everyone wants to see something deeper,” Jekaterina said. This statement couldn’t be more fitting in the context of influencer marketing. Audiences today crave genuine connections and transparency, rather than polished advertisements.

She went on to challenge companies considering influencer partnerships: “Before you decide to work with influencers, you need to answer yourself: Why?” This question serves as a reminder that influencer partnerships should be rooted in a clear strategic vision. It’s not enough to just follow trends — businesses need to understand why they want to engage with influencers and how they plan to create value for both their brand and the influencer’s audience.

The Power of Smaller Influencers

A common misconception in influencer marketing is that success is tied to having millions of followers. However, Jekaterina pointed out that the number of followers doesn’t always equate to success. “The huge amount of followers doesn’t necessarily bring success,” she noted, pointing to the fact that smaller influencers often yield greater engagement. Smaller influencers tend to have a more loyal and interactive audience, making them more flexible and responsive to brand messages.

In iGaming, where emotional connection plays a key role, Alexandra emphasized the importance of finding influencers whose values and approach resonate with the brand. “Working with influencers is about emotions, and when you are on the same page, that is magic,” she said. It’s about creating an authentic, emotional link that transcends the transactional nature of traditional advertising.

All attendees of the EEGS Webinar received a Certificate of Attendance, acknowledging their commitment to continuous learning and professional development in the iGaming industry.

For those who missed the live session, the on-demand video is now available – featuring key insights on how influencers are reshaping the marketing strategies, and practical tips on choosing, briefing, and collaborating with them effectively.

You can watch the full session here: www.youtube.com/@eegamingsummit

Stay tuned for more updates and upcoming events by following EEGS on social media and visiting their official website.

Tech-driven affiliate and media company Already Media has acquired Live Casino Comparer for an undisclosed sum.

Live Casino Comparer is a well-established review portal focused on the live dealer niche. It was founded in 2014, and its team brings more than 30 years of casino experience to every review it publishes.

The site’s founder, Neil Walker, will stay on both as an advisor and an active part of the content team, helping to scale Live Casino Comparer’s output across both the B2C and B2B verticals.

Already Media will also rebuild the site’s platform and has plans to enter into new geos and content formats.

The deal was brokered by Corfai, the specialist M&A advisory founded by Ben Robinson.

Alina Famenok, CEO at Already Media, said: “This is another landmark for Already Media, as we continue to acquire brands that expand our reach and can benefit from our technology. We’re excited to get to work alongside Neil to take Live Casino Comparer to new heights. Huge thanks to Ben and the Corfai team for helping us close this deal in just two weeks, which is surely the fastest M&A deal in iGaming history.”

Neil Walker, founder at Live Casino Comparer, added: “I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter for Live Casino Comparer as part of the Already Media team. They bring the technical and operational firepower to scale globally, while keeping the spirit of honest, expert-driven reviews at the core.”

The acquisition aligns with Already Media’s strategy of acquiring trusted affiliate brands and elevating them through its technology-led approach.

Last year, the company acquired PokerListings, and has since migrated it to a new platform, entered new regions and developed a vibrant community around the brand.