The Ukrainian government has transferred oversight of the newly established PlayCity agency, responsible for regulating the gambling industry, to the direct coordination of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. This change, outlined in Cabinet Resolution No. 613 dated May 13, marks a significant shift from its previous management under the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
According to the resolution, PlayCity will now operate under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. This move has been welcomed by Danilo Hetmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy, who expressed his support on social media, stating, “This is undoubtedly just the first step in pulling the market out of its previous dire state.”
The establishment of PlayCity follows the Ukrainian Parliament’s adoption of Law No. 9256-d on December 4, 2024, aimed at enhancing control over the gambling market. This legislation led to the dissolution of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), which was officially signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelensky on January 4, 2025.
On March 21, the government created PlayCity as a successor to KRAIL, with its powers officially transferred by the Cabinet on March 25. The agency is now headed by Hennadiy Novikov, who previously served as the deputy head of KRAIL.
Under Novikov’s leadership, the Ministry of Digital Transformation reported significant progress in combating illegal online casinos, with over 4,500 websites blocked in 2024 alone. Additionally, compliance checks on gambling operators resulted in the collection of nearly 18 million hryvnias in fines.
PlayCity officially commenced operations on June 2, 2025, marking a new chapter in Ukraine’s approach to gambling regulation.
The Ukrainian government has restructured its gambling regulation by placing the newly formed PlayCity agency under the direct oversight of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. This shift aims to enhance control over the gambling market, following the dissolution of the previous regulatory body, KRAIL.