Against this backdrop, the figure of ₴14.5 billion in revenues from legal operators in 2025 looks like a success — but a success “on thin ice.” Without high-quality regulation, strong institutions, and normal cooperation between the state and the white market, these revenues remain fragile and unstable. A Young Market and “Uneven” Institutions The Ukrainian gambling market is a typical young market with high expectations and uneven institutional performance. State agencies de

The experience of most European countries and the United States convincingly shows that excessive strictness in gambling regulation rarely delivers the expected results. Fighting the shadow market solely by tightening legislation not only fails to reduce it but often does the opposite — it strengthens it. The reason is simple: when the legal market becomes over-regulated, expensive, or inaccessible to players, a portion of the audience inevitably moves to the "grey" or "black

Legalization is always only the first step in building any system in a country. Conventionally, it is a permit that authorizes the start of a certain process. However, what should be done after this "permit" is obtained? What are the next steps? These are the most difficult questions. The answer to them requires systematic work aimed at making this "permission" work and ensuring that all parties involved benefit from it. That is why the development of a regulatory system capa

France and Liechtenstein demonstrate two different but effective approaches to regulating the lottery sector — both based on transparent licensing, structured GGR, and no tax pressure on players. In France, lotteries operate under the supervision of the ANJ regulator, and the state operator FDJ has a 25-year concession. The main burden in the system is focused on GGR: about 69% of gross revenue goes to the state, including social contributions. Added to this is an annual paym

In developed countries, lotteries are one of the most important sources of revenue for state budgets in the gambling sector. Abroad, this sector is actively regulated, and the state receives significant amounts from taxes and fees, which are used for the development of medicine, sports, culture, and other areas. At the same time, the situation in Ukraine remains unclear, despite some  changes,  that have recently in Ukrainian legislation  . The most pressing issues are the pa

The Ukrainian gambling market and related financial services are gradually moving from reactive to preventive control mechanisms. One of the most important innovations in the near future will be the creation of a "drop registry" — a system designed to detect and block funding channels for illegal businesses before an offense occurs. The idea is simple: instead of searching for culprits after violations, the state creates a mechanism that prevents financial abuses from occurri

The main goal of any business is to make a profit. To understand how much a business earns, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of its own cost mechanism. The tax burden is one of the key items of expenditure, so the more transparent the taxation system is and the more clearly defined the tax rates are, the easier it is for businesses to develop, plan, and invest. Unfortunately, at present, tax terms for gambling are not defined in Ukraine. Moreover, even the basic

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the gambling industry — from predicting player behavior to automating marketing, compliance, and even fraud prevention. However, this technology is not a “magic button.” As recent analytical data from MIT Sloan Management Review  shows, only 5% of companies in the entertainment sector record real revenue growth after implementing AI-based pilot projects. The rest either see no financial return or are forced to halt developm

It has been several years since gambling was legalized in Ukraine, yet public pressure on this sector remains strong.Casinos, betting companies, and online gaming platforms operate openly, report their activities, and pay taxes. Meanwhile, lotteries — one of the oldest segments of the market — continue to exist almost outside the law. Licensing conditions for them have still not been approved, which means no taxes are paid, no oversight is in place, and profits remain in the

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has firmly established itself among the trends that are driving change in the gambling industry. It opens up many new opportunities for businesses, from personalized gaming experiences for players to automated risk management systems. However, like any other technology, AI needs time to adapt to business needs. Even more time and effort are needed for this technology to start generating profits. The use of artificial intelligence

The European Union is once again demonstrating its ability to set the tone in the field of gambling regulation. The decision of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to create a single standard for harm markers, supported by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), marks a new stage in player protection policy. The initiative, which has been in the works for several years, has now received political and professional approval: on September 25, the majorit

The State Online Monitoring System (SOMS) is one of the most anticipated tools for reforming the gambling market. In September, the State Agency PlayCity announced the signing of an agreement with Computer Information Technologies LLC, the company that won the open tender to create the system. The first phase is scheduled to launch in December, and full functionality should be operational by October 2026. This is not just a technological project. It is the key to trust betwee