The online gambling industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge in fraudulent activity. Over the past year, the volume of suspicious transactions in the iGaming sector has increased 4.5-fold, while the average value of such transactions has nearly doubled from approximately $4,000 to $6,500. These figures point not to isolated incidents of abuse, but to a systemic transformation in the nature of the threats faced by online gambling operators. Read more

Recently, PlayCity published the first results of a large-scale study on gambling behavior. The survey included 3,164 respondents aged 18 and older. Particular attention was given to examining so-called "at-risk groups," including young people, military personnel, and socially vulnerable populations. The findings proved to be both interesting and encouraging, especially compared to the claims repeatedly made by critics of gambling reform. The study found that public participa

Recently, PlayCity published the first results of a large-scale study on gambling behavior. The study involved 3,164 respondents aged 18 and older. Particular attention was paid to examining so-called “at-risk groups” - including young people, military personnel, and socially vulnerable populations. The findings proved to be quite interesting and encouraging, especially when compared with the narratives repeatedly promoted by critics of gambling reform. Read more

AI tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, finding their way into virtually every aspect of modern society. AI-powered assistants help us with work, online shopping, and even parenting. However, despite their power and versatility, global AI platforms are not always able to fully meet the specific needs of users in individual countries. Read more

AI tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, finding their way into virtually every area of human activity. Artificial intelligence-based assistants help us with work, online shopping, and even parenting. However, despite their power and versatility, global AI platforms are not always able to fully address the specific needs of users in a particular country. To achieve this, these models need to be “trained” to understand local contexts and “tailored” to the legi

У країні, яка продовжує функціонувати в умовах воєнного стану, уряд надав пріоритет прозорості, цифровізації та посиленню нагляду в секторах, які тривалий час характеризувалися наявністю регуляторних прогалин. У цей період PlayCity не лише вдалося створити ефективну систему ліцензування, а й закласти основу для більш передбачуваного та керованого ринкового середовища. Детальніше

PlayCity’s first year of operation marked an important milestone for Ukraine’s gambling and lottery market. As the country continues to navigate the challenges of wartime, the government has prioritized transparency, digitalization, and stronger oversight in sectors that were previously characterized by significant regulatory grey areas. Over the past year, PlayCity has not only established an effective licensing system but also laid the foundation for a more predictable, tra

A new study from Gaming Compliance International highlights the staggering size of the global unregulated gambling economy, estimating annual betting turnover at USD 5.9 trillion. The report underscores the rapid rise of “disguised gambling” products - such as social casinos, prediction markets, skin trading platforms, and influencer-led competitions—which mimic traditional gambling mechanics while operating outside most regulatory frameworks, creating significant challenges

Gaming Compliance International recently published its GCI Online Gaming 2025: Global report on the global unregulated gambling market. According to the company's estimates, the scale of this market is truly staggering even by global economic standards with an annual betting turnover of $5.9 trillion. This figure exceeds the combined national budgets of many European countries and is surpassed only by the economies of the United States and China. Read more

The legalization of the gambling industry has turned gambling into a significant source of government revenue. Last year alone, the sector contributed more than UAH 17 billion in tax payments. However, these billions represent only the tip of the iceberg, as the regulated market currently accounts for just 20% of the industry. The remaining 80% operates on the black market, allowing billions in potential tax revenue to bypass the state budget every year. Read more

The transfer of gambling market regulation under the authority of the Ministry of Digital Transformation has driven a number of trends in the industry. One of the most significant is the digitalization of interaction processes between the regulator, gambling operators, and players. In addition, such innovations also help more effectively monitor gambling behavior and prevent the spread of gambling addiction, writes Anton Kuchukhidze, Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council

The transfer of gambling market regulation under the authority of the Ministry of Digital Transformation has sparked a number of trends in the industry. One of the most significant is the digitalization of interaction processes between the regulator, gambling operators, and players. In addition, such innovations also help more effectively monitor gambling behavior and prevent the spread of gambling addiction. Read more

Anton Kuchukhidze is a Ukrainian gambling industry expert and the Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC). He is actively involved in discussions surrounding gambling regulation, market transparency, responsible gaming, and the digital transformation of the sector in Ukraine. Kuchukhidze regularly contributes expert commentary on legislative reforms, taxation, anti-shadow market measures, and the development of a modern regulatory framework aligned with European stan

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity have launched digital licensing for the gambling business through the “Diia” portal. Applications for land-based and online casinos,slot machine halls, poker, and B2B services can be submitted online using a qualified electronic signature (QES). The system automatically retrieves data on companies and beneficial owners from registries, the application status can be tracked in a personal account, and decisions are delivered w

The state agency PlayCity has launched a pilot mode of SOMS—an instrument set to fundamentally change the approach to gambling market oversight. Instead of delayed reporting, the state can now monitor every transaction in real time. The first two operators are already connected, and in the near future the system is expected to cover the entire licensed segment, writes Ukrainian Gambling Council Deputy Chairman Viktoriya Zakrevska in her column. Read more

The register of individuals who have voluntarily restricted their access to gambling already contains 15,000 entries. This statistic sends an important signal: the self-exclusion tool is beginning to function not as a formal option, but as a real mechanism for player protection and a way to prevent risky behavior in a timely manner, analyzes Viktoriya Zakrevska, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council, in her column. Read more

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has reported to the European Commission the critical scale of the problem: in 2025, the illegal segment accounted for 27%, or €18 billion in GGR, of the European online gambling market. Fake websites cloning legitimate brands, illegal apps without verification, and phishing schemes on social media steal players’ data, encourage addiction, and leave users without any protection, writes Viktoriya Zakrevska, Deputy Chairman of t

What lies ahead for the legal gambling industry in the near future, and how the relevant ministry envisions the sector’s prospects, is discussed in his column by Anton Kuchukhidze, Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council. Read more

In Ukraine, the regulation of the gambling sector is undergoing an active transformation. The state is intensifying its fight against illegal operators, expanding licensing practices, and testing new digital control tools. Against this backdrop, the market is gradually moving toward a more transparent and balanced model, in which the focus is placed not only on sanctions but also on creating conditions for the development of the legal segment. Read more

The Western gambling market is well-established and demonstrates steady revenue growth. However, one of the key challenges facing such markets is that once a certain threshold is reached, growth rates slow significantly due to high regulatory and tax burdens. Another major barrier is the extremely high “entry threshold” for new companies. In these markets, they are forced to compete with powerful gambling corporations that possess far greater financial and other resources. As