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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”).

It has been several months since gaming venues across the Ukraine were permitted to re-open their enterprises and greet eager guests with world-class gaming entrainment. While Ukraine casinos were closed and the entire local gaming sector meticulously planned its return, global gaming leader IGT was excitedly proclaiming, “The best is back – and better.” The claim was based on the Company’s reentry into the market following a highly successful era that included the distribution of top-producing games such as Coyote Moon, Mystical Mermaid and Cleopatra,

In such challenging times for the land-based casino business, many operators will already be cutting costs in order to survive. Operators who don’t face the cold, hard facts and adapt could end up on the scrap heap of forgotten casino disappointments. By Andrew Cosgrove

Casino Life talks to Anton Kuchukhidze, Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council

For almost a year, the gambling business in Ukraine and the West was expecting progress on the taxation issues, and it finally happened. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported draft law 2713-d in the first reading. The law is aimed at regulating taxation of the gambling sector in Ukraine, as well as making it predictable for Western investors. The lack of the final tax rates makes the reform incomplete but now there are reasons for positive expectations.

As we move into the fourth month of doing business in Ukraine, we can announce the first results of the work. Shangri La is the first foreign-licensed casino in Ukraine and we are pleased to announce that our brand remains the market leader not only in registration primacy, but also in high-class service standards.

Casino Life Ukraine exclusively interviews Darren Keane, CEO of Storm International, on the opening of the company’s Shangri La Casino Kyiv

When gaming was previously regulated in Ukraine, players ranked IGT game titles like Cleopatra™, Mystical Mermaid™, and Wolf Run™ among their favorites. Now that the market is re-opening, the best is back with a more compelling content and hardware portfolio than ever before.

The American Gaming Association provided an update Monday 12^th April, on the 2021 Global Gaming Expo, noting “efforts to convene the gaming industry safely this fall October 4–7, 2021 (Education: October 4-7 | Expo Hall: October 5-7) at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.”

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