The Ukrainian government has introduced its inaugural comprehensive strategy to address gambling addiction, alongside a three-year operational plan extending from 2027 to 2029. On August 26, 2026, the cabinet of ministers formalized this initiative through Order No. 855-r, requiring approximately 40 public agencies to work collaboratively to mitigate the social and economic impacts of gambling by 2035.
In this new strategy, Kyiv highlighted gambling addiction as a pressing public health matter and a national security issue that calls for a cohesive governmental response. A recent survey indicated that 75% of participants viewed gambling as a serious concern affecting Ukraine.
This new framework represents a significant shift from the previously scattered approaches, integrating health, social services, education, defense, security sectors, the gambling regulator PlayCity, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation into a unified effort.
Defined within the strategy are five strategic goals, which include promoting healthy lifestyles and improving access to timely treatment and social support for individuals suffering from gambling disorders. The initiative aims to encourage responsible gambling while tackling the illegal gambling market through various measures and developing a data-driven monitoring and evaluation system.
The operational plan, which accompanies the strategy, sets forth specific actions, responsible parties, and deadlines for the years 2027 to 2029. This involves launching a nationwide public awareness campaign, integrating gambling risk education into curricula, and implementing routine screenings by health services for early identification of gambling issues. Enhanced access to psychological treatment, rehabilitation, and social services will also be a focus, alongside specialized prevention and rehabilitation programs for military personnel and veterans. Additionally, the strategy includes systematic blocking of illegal gambling websites and advertisements, with annual progress reports to be managed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation starting in 2028.
The context of war in Ukraine has worsened the gambling problem. The strategy describes gambling addiction as both a health problem and a national security threat, noting that the ongoing conflict has heightened the risk of harmful coping behaviors such as gambling, particularly among armed forces, veterans, youth, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Recently, the gambling regulator has implemented an automated system to prevent military personnel from accessing online gambling.
Data on Ukraine’s regulated gambling market, as of January 1, indicates there are 34 licensed operators, including casinos, gaming halls, online casinos, poker, and bookmakers. However, illegal gambling activities continue to thrive. Between June and December 2025, PlayCity uncovered 2,844 unlicensed gambling websites, which translates to about 113 illicit sites for each licensed operator. There were also 76 unauthorized land-based venues reported to the State Bureau for Economic Security.
Research cited within the strategy indicates that between 39% and 53% of gambling activities occur in the unregulated, illegal sector. However, a recent study commissioned by Ukraine's Ministry of Transformation found that 86% of 2,676 respondents favored licensed online casinos, with 78% expressing no intention of turning to illegal operators. One in five players reported being aware of friends who gamble on unlicensed platforms. The primary reasons for using illegal services included quick registration without ID checks (33%), anonymity (17%), and lack of restrictions (16%).
Despite the high level of gambling activity, formal diagnoses of pathological gambling remain low. Data indicates that 308 patients were diagnosed under ICD-10 F63.0, with fewer than 100 receiving treatment per year through the national medical guarantees program.
