Betsson placed on Finland’s payment blocking list for the second time
Operator’s subsidiary, BML Group, once again named by the National Police Board after losing appeal in the Supreme Administrative Court
Betsson has once again been added to Finland’s payment blocking list after the business lost its appeal in the Supreme Administrative Court.
Betsson’s subsidiary, BML Group, was readded to the payment blocking list on 28 November, with Finland’s National Police Board having updated its public spreadsheet notice of named businesses last week.
The payment blocking list requires payment providers, banks and other financial institutions to block payments from Finland to those companies listed.
The latest twist in the case comes after Betsson was fined €2.4m (£2.1m) for advertising breaches in May 2023, having being been found guilty by the National Police Board (NPB).
Then, in February this year, the NPB added a list of organisations to its payment blocking list, which included BML Group.
Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court suspended the order in April after Betsson appealed the decision.
However, the operator has now once again found itself added to Finland’s blocking list following the conclusion of the case.
In a statement to EGR, a Betsson spokesperson said: “We have taken note of the developments you mentioned. At this time, we don’t have any further comments on this matter.
“Should there be any updates, we will make sure to communicate them accordingly.”
Antti Koivula, legal advisor at Legal Gaming Attorneys at Law, noted Betsson’s return to the payment blocking list could set a precedent for more regulatory action.
He said: “The case involving Betsson’s subsidiary, BML Group Ltd, pertained to their marketing practices targeting Finland, which were found to violate Finnish law.
“BML has now exhausted all appeals without success and the case has been conclusively resolved. The National Police Board’s prohibition order, accompanied by a conditional fine of €2.4m and inclusion on the payment blocking list until 19 October 2025, remains in effect.
“The case itself was straightforward and unfolded exactly as I had anticipated. From my perspective, the more intriguing question now is: who will be the next to follow in BML’s footsteps?”
Finland is in the process of switching from its monopoly model to a multi-licensed framework, which it hopes to be launched at the start of 2026.
Last year, EGR analysed the Finnish model as the European nation mulled over making the switch.
EGR has reached out to the NPB for comment.