Fighter's Gambling Ban Proposal Met with Response by Zelensky
**"Here's the scoop on the latest developments in Ukraine's online gambling landscape."
In an evening address, the president dropped a bombshell.
He announced that a petition addressing the widespread problem of online gambling platforms has garnered the necessary signatures. The petition highlights the issue's impact on society and mandated the Heads of the Security Service of Ukraine, State Special Communications Service, Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council to collect all relevant analytics on this topic and propose a solution within a week.
Remember the soldier from the 59th brigade, Pavel Petrychenko?He submitted a petition pleading for the blocking of gambling access for military personnel and prohibiting volunteers and military units from accepting aid from gambling market companies.
Pulling the curtain back on this issue:The current regulation initiation for online gambling platforms in Ukraine calls for a complete overhaul, establishing a new regulatory authority called PlayCity. This agency is designed to replace the former Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), which faced numerous challenges.
Looking Around the Block:
- New Faces in Town: The government has dissolved KRAIL and established PlayCity to oversee the gambling industry in Ukraine. PlayCity's objectives include enhancing regulatory oversight, combating illegal gambling operators, promoting responsible gaming practices, and fostering a more transparent and regulated gambling market, expected to generate additional tax revenues for the state budget.
- Public’s Trust: PlayCity aims to restore public trust by overhauling the regulatory landscape and ensuring compliance with strict regulations for all gambling activities.
- Leadership and Experience: Gennadiy Novikov, a former deputy head of KRAIL, has been appointed to lead PlayCity, emphasizing the need for updated regulations to ensure a transparent and regulated market.
- Legislative Support: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed new rules supporting PlayCity, providing strong political backing for these reforms.
Raising the Stakes:
- Problem Gamblers Registry: There has been a surge in Ukrainians registering for the Problem Gamblers Registry, with approximately 13,000 people listed as of March 2025. Most of these registrations are voluntary, as individuals seek to restrict their access to gambling.
In summary, the proposed solution focuses on a comprehensive reform of the gambling regulatory framework, prioritizing transparency, public trust, and responsible gaming practices. Stay informed about this evolving situation, and check news on sporting.net for updates on the gambling business in Ukraine and the world.
- Pavel Petrychenko, a soldier from the 59th brigade, has initiated a discussion about online gambling policy-and-legislation in Ukraine, requesting the blocking of platforms for military personnel and prohibiting aid from gambling market companies.
- President Zelenskyy announced that a petition highlighting the societal impact of online gambling has been collected, prompting the Heads of key Ukrainian offices to analyze the issue and propose solutions within a week.
- The established regulatory agency, PlayCity, aims to overhaul the gambling industry, combating illegal operators, promoting responsible gaming, and fostering transparency – objectives expected to boost tax revenues for the state budget.
- The public's trust in the gambling industry is expected to be restored through the initiation of new regulations and strict compliance.
- Indian Petrychenko's call for action, the establishment of PlayCity, and President Zelenskyy's legislative support are mainstays in the current news cycles concerning Ukraine's crime-and-justice sector and general news.
