The Ukraine government took to Telegram to confirm a significant change to the regulatory framework for gambling operators.
As a result of the overhaul, gambling transactions in Ukraine will soon be recorded by a new ‘State Online Monitoring System’.
The country’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution of state registries that will allow the integration of the system among all licensed gambling operators across casinos, online platforms, slot machine halls, bookmakers and online poker operations.
According to the Cabinet the new system will be a key tool in “creating a transparent and open market”.
It will allow the recording of bets placed and returned, as well as winnings, make market volume data publicly available and help the state develop a new tax policy for the sector.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation first announced plans for a tracking system in July, inviting IT companies to contribute to the systems design.
Following the approval of the system, a tender for its product development will be announced.
The system will support PlayCity, Ukraine’s newly established regulatory authority, which replaced the former regulator, KRAIL, on 1 April.
The new regulator has been given the mandate of implementing state policy across gambling and lotteries, which have been deemed high risk sectors amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
Battling the black market
The new system emerges as warnings over the illegal gambling market continue to intensify.
Writing for SBCEurasia, Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, Founding Member and Deputy Chair of the Ukrainian Gambling Council, cautioned that the advancement of digital tech is creating an environment for iGaming to prosper.
Zakrevskaya underpinned the importance of a comprehensive approach and flexibility in adapting to technological changes in the modern environment.
She emphasised: “To counter these challenges, countries around the world are implementing innovative approaches that combine technological, regulatory, and social measures. In particular, Argentina is restricting access to gambling websites via public Wi-Fi networks.”
In the case of Ukraine, the regulator is collaborating with Meta to tackle Instagram accounts of bloggers who promote illegal online casinos through stories, showing fake “winnings” and leaving active links to banned sites.
The new approach to data collection may fill industry stakeholders with nervousness; however, Zakrevskaya’s underlying appetite for flexibility may serve to alleviate some of these fears.
iGaming Expert Analysis: As tax regimes across Europe take shape, the eyes of Europe will be firmly fixed on this quite unique approach from Ukraine in tracking the performance of the market. If successful, could this spark widespread change to data collection across the continent?
September 15 will see SBC organise a groundbreaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/
