Key Moments:
- Ukraine confirmed that all gambling license holders will be required to integrate with a state online monitoring system.
- The new system allows real-time tracking of bets, returns, and winnings to assist PlayCity, Ukraine’s regulatory body.
- Further reforms have been proposed, including new B2B registers, increased enforcement powers, and a ban on gambling advertising.
New Regulatory System Rolled Out
Six weeks after the Ministry of Digital Transformation first introduced plans for a state online monitoring platform, Ukraine has officially stated that all regulated gambling operations are now mandated to use this system. Announced via Telegram on Sunday (August 31), the new regulation enables comprehensive oversight of gambling transactions to advance transparency efforts across the sector.
PlayCity, the newly established regulatory agency, will utilize this technology to monitor gambling activity in real time, covering bets, returns, and player winnings. The Cabinet of Ministers has emphasized that the system is designed to enable real-time verification of operator information, improve regulatory compliance, and allow PlayCity to release detailed data on market volumes for both enforcement and policymaking.
Exciting news! Ukraine’s gambling regulator is set to launch a real-time online betting monitoring system. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/nhQM1Q0hIL
— peaceful cop (@peacefulcoop) July 16, 2025
PlayCity Takes the Lead in Industry Reform
This latest initiative represents PlayCity’s most substantial development since its inception. PlayCity was formed after the prior regulator, KRAIL, was dissolved amid allegations of corruption, money laundering, and illicit associations with Russian operatives.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established PlayCity to oversee gambling activities in the wake of these issues, and the agency started operating on April 1. PlayCity has been tasked with executing state policy for both gambling and lotteries, sectors considered particularly sensitive given Ukraine’s ongoing conflict.
On April 8, Hennadiy Novikov was named head of PlayCity. Novikov, who previously served as both a member and deputy head of KRAIL, brings substantial experience and established connections within the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The state monitoring system, which was first outlined in July, covers all forms of regulated gambling, from land-based casinos and arcades to online betting and poker platforms.
Upcoming Changes and Industry Outlook
The government’s introduction of the new monitoring system is part of a wider set of planned reforms. Among these, officials are considering creating a new register for B2B licensees, granting PlayCity expanded authority to block illegal gambling websites, and instituting a full ban on advertising related to gambling.
Underlying these changes are mounting concerns about widespread gambling activity; the National Bank has noted that residents are spending nearly UAH 400 million (approximately €8 million) each day through online platforms. In response to an increasingly complex regulatory environment, gambling operators—many facing unique challenges due to the ongoing war—have called for consistent and enforceable guidelines. The situation has been made more complicated by actions from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with several former industry participants encountering license suspensions, frozen accounts, and international blacklisting.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Monitoring System Launch | Confirmed for all licensees as of Sunday (Aug 31) |
| Regulating Body | PlayCity (established April 1) |
| Daily Online Gambling Spend | UAH 400 million (approx €8 million) |
| Planned Reforms | B2B license register, ad ban, expanded site-blocking powers |
- Author
Daniel Williams
