During an interview with MTV News, Finland’s Director General of Ownership Steering, Maija Strandberg, didn’t rule out the possibility of Veikkaus being publicly listed in 2027 as the dust settles on a new regulatory framework.
With the success of the listing of Posti, which is the main Finnish postal service, the door could be opened to other services being listed.
While Strandberg revealed that the government is exploring the potential listing of Veikkaus, much could hinge on how the operator fairs in the newly shaped Finnish gambling ecosystem.
Strandberg told MTV News: “Of course we continuously consider whether we have companies in our portfolio that would be appropriate to list. Veikkaus’s name has been circulating, but regarding Veikkaus I say: it is not yet timely. The current legislation does not allow a listing and Veikkaus as a company is not yet ready for listing.
She added: “The matter can be considered after the year 2027. If the government adheres to this investment programme overall, then we cannot avoid the sale of listed companies as well.”
Details for how Finland’s regulation will look continue to be fine-tuned. Most recently there were changes suggested by the Constitutional Committee of Finland’s Parliament, which looked to iron out creases in the Gambling Act to move towards a multi-licensed operator ecosystem.
One of the criticisms was around the legislation risking restriction of ‘freedom of business and expression’, which are fundamental rights under Finnish law.
Significantly debate is also intensified around tax of the Finnish market, which will be integral to acceptance of the bill from the country’s key players.
One of the more central criticisms aimed at the Finland market, has been around the Gambling Act’s taxation framework has been criticised as lacking clarity by the Constitutional Committee.
Subsequently, the MPs of the Administrative Committee have now been asked to ensure tax is propionate and not ‘confiscatory’.
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