UKRAINE REGULATION
PlayCity as the central executive authority implementing state policy in the gambling and lottery sector 2 , 3 The institutional framework has continued to evolve as the Government searches for a model that provides a clear distribution of powers and a transparent regulatory process. The most recent step was the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 613 of 13 May, 2026, which moved PlayCity out of the remit of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and placed it within the sphere of direct coordination through the Prime Minister of Ukraine. 4 This change should be read not merely as an administrative adjustment, but as part of a broader attempt to secure more effective institutional conditions for the implementation of the State Online Monitoring System (of which more below) and for the transparent taxation of the gambling sector. Although gambling legislation itself has not undergone fundamental reform, the Ukrainian gambling sector has experienced a remarkable number of operational and institutional changes during the past year. Most of these changes can be viewed positively, although they represent incremental progress rather than radical change. The key question is therefore not only what has been created, but whether these new instruments will produce measurable improvements in market transparency, tax compliance, player protection and the reduction of the illegal sector. The most significant innovations of the past year PlayCity has announced the creation and use of a specially developed system for tracking illegal operator websites and transferring them for blocking in cooperation with the National Commission for Electronic Communications. According to official materials, this system was launched to
identify illegal websites automatically and more effectively. PlayCity and the Ministry of Digital Transformation have also reported that more than 3,500 illegal gambling websites were blocked during the first year of the reform, while more than 500 social media accounts unlawfully advertising gambling were removed and sanctions were applied to 16 bloggers and media outlets. 5 , 6 These figures demonstrate a visible increase in enforcement activity. However, they should not yet be treated as proof that the illegal market has materially decreased. Ukraine still lacks publicly available, independently verified data showing whether the accessibility of illegal platforms for Ukrainian users has actually fallen, whether players have migrated to the regulated market, or whether legal operators’ market share has increased as a result of blocking measures. The effectiveness of Ukraine’s enforcement model therefore remains unproven and should be assessed only after measurable indicators become available. Any measures aimed at combating the illegal market should be welcomed. At the same time, Ukraine still lacks a systematic approach to the blocking of financial transactions related to illegal gambling with the involvement of banking institutions. This remains a major gap. International experience shows that restricting payments to illegal operators can be one of the most effective tools against the unregulated market. For Ukraine, the development of a practical cooperation model between the regulator, financial monitoring bodies, banks and payment service providers should therefore become a priority. Regarding licensing, the Government has approved the possibility of submitting gambling licence applications through the nationwide digital public services platform, Diia. Once fully operational, this should simplify the licensing
2 Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 314 “On the central executive authority implementing state policy in the field of gambling and lotteries”, 21 March 2025. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/314-2025-%D0%BF 3 Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 505 “On approval of the Regulation on the State Agency of Ukraine PlayCity”, 2 May 2025. https://zakon. rada.gov.ua/go/505-2025-%D0%BF 4 Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 613, 13 May 2026, changing the coordination of PlayCity. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/613-2026-%D0%BF 5 PlayCity, “Results of PlayCity’s work in April”, 7 May 2026. https://playcity.gov.ua/news/rezultaty-roboty-playcity-u-kvitni 6 PlayCity, “One year since the launch of the reform of the gambling and lottery market in Ukraine: results of the Ministry of Digital Transforma- tion and PlayCity”. https://playcity.gov.ua/news/rik-vid-zapusku-reformy-rynku-azartnykh-ihor-ta-loterei-v-ukraini-rezultaty-mintsyfry-ta-der- zhahentstva-playcity
IMGL MAGAZINE | JUNE 2026
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