The Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation has unveiled the country’s first strategy aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of gambling and addressing gambling addiction. This initiative was announced by PlayCity, the regulatory body overseeing Ukraine’s gambling industry.
Implementation of the strategy will involve more than 40 government agencies and institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Education, and law enforcement agencies. Officials describe this as a significant step in the reform of Ukraine’s gambling market, emphasizing a proactive approach to identifying risks, prevention, and comprehensive support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
“The strategy focuses on player protection, the development of responsible gaming culture, self-control tools, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation,” stated representatives from PlayCity.
The draft strategy has been made available for public discussion, with suggestions for amendments accepted until May 18, 2026.
Earlier reports from PlayCity indicated that since the beginning of 2026, over 3,000 Ukrainians have applied to be included in a self-restriction registry to limit their access to gambling.
In a related development, on December 4, 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament passed Law No. 9256d, which aims to enhance oversight of the gambling market, including the dissolution of the Gambling and Lottery Regulation Commission (KRAIL).
On January 4, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed this law into effect. Subsequently, on March 21, the government established PlayCity as a replacement for KRAIL, which will operate under the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
On March 25, the Cabinet of Ministers made the decision to dissolve KRAIL, transferring its powers to PlayCity, led by Gennady Novikov, who previously served as the deputy head of KRAIL. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Novikov was instrumental in blocking illegal online casinos, with over 4,500 sites shut down in 2024 alone. He also facilitated inspections of gambling organizers to ensure compliance with the law, resulting in nearly 18 million hryvnias in fines collected.
PlayCity officially commenced operations on June 2, 2025.
Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation has launched a comprehensive strategy to combat gambling addiction, involving multiple government agencies. The initiative aims to enhance player protection and promote responsible gaming practices, with public feedback invited until May 2026.