A year after the implementation of a new law aimed at reforming Ukraine’s gambling and lottery markets, significant progress has been reported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the state agency PlayCity. This reform seeks to establish a transparent and accountable gambling environment.
In 2025, PlayCity resumed licensing for gambling operators and lottery organizers, resulting in substantial contributions to the state budget. The financial outcomes for the year included:
- Over ₴1.7 billion from gambling licenses;
- Nearly ₴17 billion in tax revenues from the gambling sector;
- More than ₴72 million from lottery operator licenses.
Prior to the relaunch of the lottery market in 2025, the government had not received any licensing revenues from this sector for over 12 years.
Efforts Against Illegal Gambling
In the past year, significant actions have been taken to combat illegal gambling activities:
- More than 3,500 illegal gambling websites were blocked;
- Over 500 social media accounts promoting illegal gambling were removed;
- Penalties were imposed on 16 bloggers and media outlets for unlawful advertising of gambling.
PlayCity has developed a collaborative framework with law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Economic Security, to systematically identify individuals responsible for illegal gambling promotions. The agency has established rapid communication channels with major platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Viber, and Google to swiftly address violations related to online advertising.
Addressing Gambling Addiction and Player Protection
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has introduced several measures aimed at protecting players:
- Financial and time limits on gambling;
- Principles of responsible gaming, prohibiting incentives such as bonuses, gifts, alcohol, promotions, and other rewards;
- New business requirements for monitoring player behavior and facilitating self-exclusion for those at risk of gambling addiction;
- A user-friendly mechanism for restricting access to gambling sites.
A notable focus has been on the safety of military personnel. In collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry has created a mechanism to limit military participation in gambling activities, which is currently under public discussion.
Market Transparency: State Online Monitoring System
A State Online Monitoring System has been developed to track the operational activities of gambling organizers in real-time. Efforts are ongoing to connect gambling operators to this system.
Transparency of Regulatory Activities
For the first time, representatives of civil society have been elected to the Independent Anti-Corruption Expert Group at PlayCity through open voting on the Diia platform. This initiative aims to enhance oversight of regulatory activities and ensure accountability to the public.
Plans for 2026
The reform of the gambling and lottery market is a complex, multi-layered process requiring continuous and effective collaboration among the Ministry of Digital Transformation, PlayCity, the government, law enforcement agencies, the National Bank, the Verkhovna Rada, and relevant committees. Legislative improvements are the next critical step, aimed at establishing fundamental norms for transparent industry operations and broader decriminalization.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has prepared three draft laws addressing changes to:
- The Tax Code;
- The Gambling Law;
- The Lottery Law.
These documents are currently open for public discussion, with expectations that the Verkhovna Rada will review them within the year.
The first year of Ukraine's gambling reform has led to significant financial contributions to the state budget and measures against illegal gambling. Ongoing legislative efforts aim to enhance transparency and player protection.