Ukraine is turning to the United Kingdom for guidance as it embarks on significant reforms in its gambling regulation framework. The Ukrainian government aims to create an effective balance between oversight and overregulation, as reported by the local media outlet Sport.Ua. Discussions will focus on gambling protection and the establishment of new requirements for operators, with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Natalia Denikeeva set to meet with the UK Gambling Commission to further these efforts. Officials from the Ministry of Digital Transformation express hopes of finalizing a memorandum of cooperation during their upcoming meeting.
In addition to engaging with the UK, Kyiv officials are contemplating additional reforms, just over a year since the establishment of PlayCity, Ukraine’s new gaming regulator. There are discussions about potentially shifting PlayCity from its current role as an affiliate of the Digital Transformation ministry to a position under direct government oversight, with a possible transfer of authority to the Ministry of Finance.
The Responsible Gambling Center (RGC), a prominent non-governmental organization, is also taking steps to improve gambling regulation in Ukraine. According to a report by UNN, RGC officials plan a trip to various European locations for insights on regulatory practices. On September 7, they will visit Tallinn, Estonia, to learn about its regulatory methods and approaches to combat gambling addiction. Their schedule also includes meetings with the ministries of Social Affairs and Finance, as well as the National Institute for Health and Development.
Additionally, the RGC will hold discussions with European gaming operators and mental health professionals during a series of meetings in Lisbon, Portugal.
A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Digital Transformation gathered responses from 3,164 Ukrainians and found that 15% identify as gamblers. The ministry noted that “one in three respondents claimed not to know any gamblers.” Despite the relatively low percentage of individuals who have gambled in the past year (5%) or in the last month (2%), three-quarters of those surveyed believe that gambling is “a serious challenge for the country.” Interestingly, 7% admitted to lending money to friends for gambling in the past year. The survey revealed that risks were more apparent among younger demographics and military personnel, and the findings will guide future policy decisions, with further research anticipated.
This survey comes in light of potential government plans to prohibit military personnel from accessing online casinos. The Ukrainian gambling sector had previously lobbied against this proposal, with the Association of Ukrainian Gaming Operators labeling the potential ban as beneficial to illegal operations. To enhance oversight, PlayCity also announced a new verification system designed to check player access to gambling platforms against a registry maintained by the Ministry of Defense, automatically blocking any soldiers attempting to log in.
Earlier this month, social media influencer Anna Alkhimova successfully appealed against an accusation from PlayCity of promoting an online casino illegally on her social media posts.
