A recent government-supported survey indicates a strong preference among online casino players in Ukraine for licensed operators. Conducted by the SOCIOINFORM Sociological Centre on behalf of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, the second phase of the survey was carried out from May 19 to June 26, 2026.
The findings, released on Wednesday, involved 2,676 online casino users participating through an online CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) format. The study follows a broader initial phase that encompassed the entire population. This project received assistance from the Centre for Responsible Gaming and the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators.
A significant 86% of respondents indicated a preference for licensed online casinos, and 78% expressed no desire to shift to unlicensed, illegal gambling sites. However, one in five players acknowledged knowing friends who gamble on unregulated platforms. The leading reasons for engaging with illegal sites included expedited registration without identity verification (33%), anonymity (17%), and absence of limitations (16%).
Most participants represented a cross-section of middle-income and educated Ukrainians. The report revealed that 42% had higher education, while 38% had secondary specialized education. Income levels were primarily middle-range, with 31% earning between 11,000 and 30,000 hryvnias monthly and 25% earning between 31,000 and 50,000 hryvnias. The majority had considerable gambling experience, often beginning before the liberalization of Ukraine’s gaming market.
Demographically, the sample was predominantly male, with men making up 73% of respondents. Among male players, 20% reported over ten years of gambling experience, while women constituted 27% of the sample, with only 5% having similar experience.
Motivations for gambling varied, with 40% participating out of curiosity and excitement and 21% doing so to escape daily life. Promotions prompted 20% of players, while 17% gambled with the desire to win money, and 14% were encouraged by social circles. Most participants (59%) viewed their gambling as controlled and recreational, though 35% admitted that their gambling habits occasionally felt uncontrollable, with 6% reporting frequent issues. Additionally, about 25% said they occasionally chased losses, and a similar percentage spent more than they intended. Around 9% claimed their gambling habits led to significant financial or personal problems.
These results contrast with an earlier nationwide study by PlayCity, in which 70% of respondents listed monetary gain as their primary motivation for gambling. That earlier survey involved 3,164 participants, including demographic groups like 415 young individuals, 409 internally displaced persons, and 404 military personnel.
The new findings have shaped government policy, particularly the Ministry’s Strategy to Combat Gambling Addiction, which aims to address prevention, responsible gaming, early risk detection, and support services through 2035. However, the survey highlighted gaps in players' knowledge of responsible-gaming tools. While 64% were aware of the existence of such measures, fewer recognized specific options. Approximately two-thirds were informed about self-control features, and 40% understood time and spending limits.
Awareness of gaming statistics access was significantly lower, with only 13% aware of this option. Just 11% knew about the minimum legal gambling age, and only 10% were informed about the national Register of Persons with Restricted Access to Gambling. Awareness of certain bans and support services for addiction was less than 10%. These numbers diverge from PlayCity's earlier survey, where 60% were aware of time and financial limit options, and 51% understood the national Register’s existence.
Additionally, the survey noted mixed feelings of trust among players concerning public institutions overseeing the gambling sector. Just over half (53%) of respondents believed that the industry is appropriately regulated. Trust in the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity was noted at 44%, with 22% feeling well-informed about their functions, while 30% had a moderate understanding.
PlayCity, which recently completed its first year as Ukraine’s gambling regulator, has issued 250 licenses for operators, lotteries, and suppliers. The regulator has also ramped up efforts to combat illegal gambling, establishing direct communication channels with the social platform Kick to enhance the removal of content promoting unlicensed gambling as operators increasingly utilize social media to attract Ukrainian audiences.
