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Ukraine launches first self-regulatory group for licensed gambling operators

by Roman Cheplyk
Monday, June 16, 2025
2 MIN
Ukraine launches first self-regulatory group for licensed gambling operators

Newly-created Association of Ukrainian Gambling Business Operators pledges transparent standards, blocks Russian grey-market casinos and partners with the PlayCity regulator on EU-level compliance

Who is joining

  • Founding members: leading licence-holders that together pay ₴10 billion+ in annual taxes

  • Eligibility: only companies that pass an admission audit – licensed operators, platform suppliers, payment systems and trade bodies

Strategic goals

Priority Action Lead partners
Market reboot Draft clear, predictable rules for all legal operators Association + Ministry of Digital Transformation
Fight illegals Identify and block ±50 Russian-controlled online casinos still active in UA web-space Association task-force, PlayCity, cyber-police
Adopt EU standards Implement Responsible Remote Gambling Measures (CEN, 134 criteria) including player-protection, under-age safeguards and privacy Association Council

Governance & standards

  • Operates under classic corporate-governance code

  • Members sign a Customer-Protection Charter incorporating the CEN responsible-gaming framework

  • Joint working groups with PlayCity (the new state agency supervising gambling since April 2025) will draft further technical and AML norms

“This is the first alliance of white-market operators who want fair competition and full tax transparency,”
Oleksandr Kohut, President, Association of Ukrainian Gambling Business Operators


Context & regulation timeline

  • Feb 2025: policy remit shifts to Ministry of Digital Transformation

  • Mar 2025: Cabinet creates PlayCity agency, headed by Hennadii Novykov

  • Apr 2025: previous regulator KRAIL dissolved

  • Market snapshot 2024: ₴55.6 bn revenue; ₴17 bn taxes (Opendatabot)


Illegal-market challenge

  • 50 unlicensed Russian-backed online casinos still target Ukrainian users

  • Estimated budget loss: up to ₴5 bn annually

  • Association to publish enforcement results jointly with law-enforcement agencies


Fiscal impact (Jan–May 2025)

Tax Paid (₴ bn)
Corporate income tax 5.96
Personal income tax on winnings 2.15
Military levy 0.65
Total (licensed sector) 8.97

Outlook: By uniting compliant operators, embedding EU-grade consumer safeguards and coordinating with the new PlayCity regulator, the Association aims to professionalise Ukraine’s gambling sector, drive out shadow players and solidify the industry’s status as a significant, transparent contributor to the state budget.

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