Legislation Reports

By: Anton Kuchukhidze Chairman Ukrainian Gambling Council

Despite Ukraine’s apparent success in the war against Russia, hostilities continue to negatively affect the country’s economy. Industries outside necessities or the military-industrial complex suffer the most from these harmful effects. Gambling belongs to such economy sectors. Realizing this, the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL) launched a legislative initiative to support the sector.

Law Firm Anđelović, Siketić & Tomić d.o.o.

Anton Kuchukhidze, Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council

Gambling in Belarus is legal, whereby online part thereof is picking up after changes of legislation which occurred in 2018/2019. Belarusian law allows three types of gambling: casino games, slot machines and bookmaking whereby there is a strict licensing regime for land-based establishments.

In the early 2000s gambling in Russia was restricted to four gambling zones and banned from the rest of the territory, bearing in mind the reputation and the general (negative) view on games of chance by the whole community. Changes started with the introduction of an interactive bet in 2014 and created a legal basis for online betting (not casinos).

Government efforts towards the lifting of an existing gambling ban that was established in 2009 and which basically “outlawed” any kind of gambling activity in the territory of Ukraine (both land based and online) were finally successful and the “Act on the state regulation of activities related to organization and conduct of gambling” was adopted in the country’s parliament on July, 14, 2020 (“Gambling Law”).

Since International Women’s Day many gambling establishments have attempted to re-open and have come foul to Ukrainian gambling law.

After a ten year hiatus, the Ukrainian government are looking to re-open casino gaming to local and international visitors. From what I hear it’s actually long overdue, and to some an opportunity not to be underestimated. In 2019, President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose presidential campaign had included a promise to turn gambling into a legal form of entertainment, put forward an initiative to legalize the gambling industry. The Verkhovna Rada formulated Bill No. 2285-D, which was published in October 2019.