TLDR
- Ukraine’s regulated gambling sector generated €395 million in tax revenue and €39.4 million in license fees during 2025
- Lottery licensing resumed for the first time in 12 years, creating a new government revenue stream
- Authorities blacklisted 3,500 illegal gambling websites and fined 16 influencers for promoting unlicensed operators
- New player protection rules ban loss-linked bonuses and let users set spending and time limits
- Ukraine’s Prosecutor General opened a criminal case into alleged irregularities around the State Online Monitoring System
Ukraine’s gambling industry posted strong financial results for 2025 after the government overhauled its regulatory framework. The country’s gambling regulator PlayCity and the Ministry of Digital Transformation released the figures this week.
The regulated sector brought in €39.4 million in direct license revenue. Total tax contributions from the industry reached nearly €395 million for the full calendar year.
The results mark the first complete year of data since Ukraine restructured its gambling market. The government re-legalized gambling back in 2020 but has spent the years since tightening oversight.
One of the biggest changes was the return of lottery licensing. Ukraine had not issued formal lottery licenses in 12 years.
The restart means the state now collects payments directly from lottery operators. Officials described it as a key step in bringing all gaming activity under formal supervision.
Crackdown on Illegal Operators
Enforcement against the black market was a major focus during 2025. PlayCity worked with national law enforcement to target unlicensed gambling operations across the country.
Authorities blacklisted 3,500 illegal gambling websites over the past year. They also blocked 500 social media accounts that were promoting unlicensed gambling services.
Sixteen influencers were fined for endorsing illegal gambling sites. The government also established partnerships with Meta, TikTok, Viber, and Google to speed up the removal of illegal marketing content.
These partnerships allow regulators to flag and take down illegal ads faster than before. Officials said the cooperation has improved the pace of daily enforcement.
New Player Protection Rules
The Ministry of Digital Transformation introduced stricter consumer protections during 2025. Regulators targeted aggressive player retention tactics and loss-chasing behavior.
Operators are now banned from offering bonuses or cashback tied to player losses. Players gained new tools to set spending limits and daily time limits on their gambling sessions.
Officials also drafted a new rule that would prohibit military personnel from accessing gambling products. The government said the restriction is meant to protect service members from gambling-related risks.
Ukrainian lawmakers are now working on further legal changes. They plan to update the national Tax Code, the main Gambling Law, and the Lottery Law. These proposals are expected to go before the Verkhovna Rada in 2026.
A separate issue has drawn attention. Market participants are now connecting to a State Online Monitoring System. This contradicts earlier statements from PlayCity chair Gennady Novikov, who previously said the system would not be implemented.
Novikov had also claimed the 2026 state budget included no funding for the monitoring system. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has since opened a formal criminal case examining alleged irregularities in the system’s implementation.
