Ukraine to relaunch lottery market
PlayCity, Ukraine's new gambling regulator, is reshaping the lottery licensing conditions and hopes to raise more than UAH 10m ($242m).
Key points:
– PlayCity announces draft proposal of a lottery licensing resolution
– Hopes are that when enacted, licensing payments could raise over UAH 10m ($242m)
– Money will reportedly be put towards military defence
PlayCity has announced via Telegram a proposal to reshape and modernise the licensing process for lotteries, which have been operating without any state control.
The newly drafted licensing conditions seek to establish a set of procedures around competition and payments for lottery licences.
While the conditions are at a draft phase for now, they are intended to be finalised following a public consultation.
When the resolution comes into force, PlayCity will be expected to oversee the first competition of state lottery operators and have it wrapped up within 60 days from announcement.
The move, planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy is said to have the potential to raise over UAH 10m ($242m) each year in fees.
The new regulator replaced the old Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) in June after the latter was dismantled due to being deemed ineffective.
Since then, it has been more aggressive in pursuing compensation from non-compliant entities and will now enact the first alteration to the country’s licensing protocols since 2013.
Good to know: PlayCity issued eight fines to licensed casino operators in the country at the start of August for failing to submit obligatory reports – the full sum confiscated was UAH 3.2m
According to the announcement, the raised funds will be used to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Regarding the conflict, these new documents from the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine do include concessions and adjustments for while the country is under martial law.
This move seeks to fulfil some of the core functions of the restructured regulator when it was approved by the Government in May 2025: transparent issuance of licences and control over the gambling market through online monitoring.
The process of digitisation and online monitoring has been moving apace already with Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation announcing development for a state online monitoring system aimed at tracking gambling operations and shaping tax policy.
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