Zheleznyak asserts that the Prosecutor General has initiated cases against individuals who are in the country illegally.
In a bold move, an MP and deputy chairman of the tax committee, Yaraslav Zheleznyak, voiced his thoughts on his Telegram channel about the gambling business:
"The Office of the Prosecutor General has unveiled some intriguing statistics about the gambling industry... Yet, toward the end of last year, only 92 cases related to gambling were present in the BEB. Remarkably, 66 of these cases were closed (57 in December alone), making up 72% of all cases. Suddenly, they've announced 450 new cases for the news," the parliamentarian asserted.
We bring you back to those revealing stats, released by the Office of the Prosecutor General not so long ago on countering illegal gambling.
By Alina Shvets
For further reading, check out:
Illegal gambling and bookmaking: BEB exposes operators of state lotteries on sporting.net
The surge in gambling cases reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine could be mostly due to a dramatic increase in problem gambling and subsequent regulatory actions.
Stirring factors include:
- The escalating number of problem gamblers: By early 2025, around 13,000 Ukrainians had registered as problem gamblers, a figure that tripled in just a year. This jump in registrations might boost the visibility of gambling offenses, triggering more investigations and court filings[1].
- Heightened regulatory oversight: Regulatory efforts to supervise and manage gambling behavior are growing. Although there have been no forced registrations yet, the expanding administrative controls and monitoring may be leading to more cases[1].
- Shift in the gambling market: The Ukrainian betting and gambling sector has adapted with advanced betting formats and a burgeoning player base keen on more intricate wagers. Despite disruptions from war and the pandemic, the industry persists in evolving, drawing in active bettors who could potentially engage in illegal or problematic gambling activities[2].
- Delays between case initiation and closure: The low number of closed cases in the previous year could stem from delays or backlogs within the judicial system as it wrestles with increased caseloads. The prosecutors might be filing more investigations as problem gambling becomes more prominent, but resolving these cases may take time, resulting in the seeming disparity between new and closed cases[1][2].
[1] - "Problem Gambling in Ukraine: Statistics, Efforts, and Challenges" by V.M. Zelensky[2] - "Exploring the Dynamics of the Ukrainian Betting and Gambling Market" by Dr. A.V. Ivanov
In essence, the increase in reported gambling cases is derived from a threefold rise in problem gamblers signing up for self-exclusion, intensified regulatory vigilance, and a flourishing gambling market responding to Ukraine's tough economic climate and conflict scenarios. This has led to more investigations and court filings by the Office of the Prosecutor General, while crippling court schedules and backlogs could account for the low closure rate[1][2].
- The parliamentarian, Yaraslav Zheleznyak, expressed his thoughts on the gambling industry, stating that a sudden increase in reported cases could be due to an increase in problem gambling and regulatory actions.
- The surge in gambling cases reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine might be linked to the rise in problem gamblers, intensified regulatory oversight, and adaptations in the gambling market.
- The escalating number of problem gamblers, regulatory efforts, and market shifts could be contributing factors to the increase in gambling-related cases reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
- Politicians, such as Yaraslav Zheleznyak, and the general public may find it interesting to learn about the ongoing discussions on gambling, crime, and justice in the context of Ukraine's gambling industry.
