Secret gaming den found concealed within prestigious housing development's parking area
New Crackdown on Gambling in Ukraine
Here's a lowdown on the latest happenings in Ukraine's gambling landscape.
Recently, detectives from the Economic Security Bureau (BEB) busted an underground gambling operation. The crooks and their clients scampered off through a nearby private clinic when the police stormed the premises. The BEB seized gaming equipment worth over 10 million UAH, including 54 machines, chairs, and additional gear.
But this isn't just a one-off operation. Since January 3, 2025, a new agency, PlayCity, has taken over the reins from the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL). Empowered with expanded powers, PlayCity is now responsible for combating illegal operators, enforcing responsible gaming measures, keeping a national register for gambling addicts, overseeing the state lottery registry, and publishing annual sector health reports.
The newly appointed leader of PlayCity is Gennadiy Novikov, who was formerly the deputy head of KRAIL. The agency has taken on 61 staff members and is tasked with overhauling the regulatory landscape to win back public trust.
Last year saw a significant increase in the number of Ukrainians registered as problem gamblers. The registry has tripled, reaching nearly 13,000 by March 2025. Most of these registrations are self-requests for temporary gambling bans.
Among the recent investigations, a high-profile case involves a bank executive, Shevtsova, being charged with laundering almost 5 billion hryvnias attributed to illegal online casinos. Despite a Supreme Court decision in December 2024 ruling BEB detectives' actions as illegal, a Lviv district court allowed a special pre-trial investigation to continue.
The new regulator is obligated to maintain and expand this registry as part of its responsible gaming initiatives. PlayCity is expected to intensify scrutiny and enforcement in the sector.
In the Spotlight:
- New Regulatory Body: PlayCity replaces KRAIL with expanded powers, including enforcing responsible gaming and maintaining a national register for gambling addicts.
- Recent Investigations: Notable investigations include the SBU and BEB's case against Shevtsova for underground casino-related activities.
- Problem Gamblers Registry: The registry grew significantly in size over the past year, reaching nearly 13,000 self-excluded individuals.
- Oversight of Lotteries: PlayCity will oversee state lottery operations and selection of operators.
- Public Trust Initiatives: The new agency is tasked with restoring trust and enforcing responsible gaming measures.
- Throughout Ukraine, detectives from the Economic Security Bureau (BEB) have been seizing gaming equipment as part of their ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling operations, such as the recent bust of an underground gambling operation that saw equipment worth over 10 million UAH seized.
- The new regulatory body, PlayCity, has taken over from the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), with expanded powers to combat illegal operators and enforce responsible gaming measures.
- In one of the recent investigations, a bank executive named Shevtsova is now being charged with laundering almost 5 billion hryvnias attributed to illegal online casinos, despite a Supreme Court decision in December 2024 ruling BEB detectives' actions as illegal.
- As part of their efforts to overcome the perceived lack of public trust, PlayCity is expected to maintain and expand the problem gamblers registry, which has tripled in size over the past year and now contains nearly 13,000 self-excluded individuals.
