Betsson’s BML Group subsidiary has been re-added to the Finnish National Police Board’s payments black list, meaning all payments between its brands and players will be prohibited.
The operator has reappeared as the only name on an updated payments black list published on 28 November. Finland introduced the black list in 2022 as part of the country’s Lottery Act. The measure came into effect from 2023.
A Police Board report dated 20 April 2024 said the regulation sought to limit “the accessibility of gambling offers outside the regulation of the Lotteries Act, to the extent that the offer is marketed in violation of the Lotteries Act.”
Blacklisted companies are unable to carry out transactions with Finnish banks, payments providers and players.
BML’s case dates back to May 2023, when it was found to have targeted Finnish players via marketing and advertising campaigns in violation of the Finnish Lotteries Act. The court fined BML Group €2.4m (£2.1m/$2.6m) and banned it from marketing its gambling services.
It was subsequently blacklisted in February. However, it appealed the ruling in Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court, but lost its case. According to the updated list, BML will stay blacklisted until 19 October 2025. Bans can be run for a maximum of 12 months but can extend for 12 months at a time.
Speaking to iGB Antti Koivula, local lawyer for Legal Gaming, said the outcome stems from prolonged unauthorised operations in Finland.
“While the resolution of this case unfolded as expected, the more intriguing question now is who will be next to join BML on the black list,” Koivula said.
Finland is preparing to launch a competitive online gambling market in January 2026. The government’s new legislation is in the process of being reviewed by the European Commission. It will be put before the Finnish parliament next year.
Payment blocking effective as black market solution
Payment blocking is one of few measures proving effective against illegal gambling operators.
In Germany, payment blocking is reaping results, particularly with the support of administrative court rulings.
Germany’s Halle Administrative Court upheld regulator Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder’s (GGL) move to block an unnamed Swiss payment provider from processing transactions to unlicensed gambling operators in October
In a recent interview with iGB Simon Priglinger-Simade, vice president for German trade body association DOCV, said: “We hear from the GGL that they see a real impact in payment blocking. Many of the [unlicensed operators] are not able to receive payments services anymore. It means this seems to be the best enforcement option at the moment.”
Stakeholders in Brazil’s betting market have also supported the country’s plans to block illegal Pix payments once the licensed market launches in January. Pix is an instant payment solution widely active across the sector.
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