Ukraine has started a new government agency called PlayCity to manage and control gambling and lottery activities in the country. This new body replaces the older Gambling Regulation Commission, which was seen as weak and ineffective. PlayCity aims to stop illegal casinos, increase tax income, and bring more order to the gambling industry.
PlayCity’s Mission: Clean Up and Modernize Gambling
The Ukrainian government wants to modernize the gambling industry. One of PlayCity’s top goals is to digitize the licensing process, making it faster and more transparent. They also want to create a real-time system that monitors all legal casinos in the country.
PlayCity will also bring back the national list of problem gamblers, which will now be added to the Diia.Engine platform. People will also be able to self-exclude from gambling using the Diia mobile app. This is a big step toward protecting users and encouraging responsible gambling.
Focus on Illegal Gambling and Russian Connections
Many unlicensed lotteries and casinos are still running in Ukraine without paying taxes. Officials believe these operations are costing the country up to UAH 10 billion every year. Some of these illegal platforms are also linked to Russia, which raises even more concern during wartime.
PlayCity has been given the responsibility to identify and shut down these illegal platforms. The goal is not only to stop tax losses but also to make sure the money collected from legal gambling helps support Ukraine’s national defense.
Hennadiy Novikov to Lead the New Watchdog
Hennadiy Novikov, a lawyer with strong experience in public service, has been named the head of PlayCity. He was appointed on April 8, and is known for backing digital reforms and strict action against rule-breakers.
Even before becoming the head, Novikov was active in cleaning up the sector. In 2024 alone, he helped shut down over 4,500 illegal online casinos and collected nearly UAH 18 million in fines from illegal operators.
When Was PlayCity Formed?
PlayCity was officially launched on March 21 by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers. It is a major part of Ukraine’s plan to remove loopholes in gambling laws and create a stronger, safer, and more regulated market.
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