International companies are an important aspect of the modern lottery market

The first stage of the lottery market reform has been completed: the PlayCity competition has identified three official operators — “M.S.L.”, “UNL”, and “Patriot”. Real-time electronic reporting has been introduced, along with unique QR codes on tickets and terminals, monitoring of sales and prize payouts. The market is finally emerging from a long-standing “grey” zone: previously there were no licensing conditions, no transparent accounting, and no real accountability — now there is a clear legal framework with verified points of sale and predictable budget revenues.

However, this progress is only the foundation. The second, critically important step is to amend the lottery law in order to open the market to international companies with proven experience. Today the segment is limited to local players, which slows competition, blocks investment in technology, and prevents the implementation of global security standards. Without this step, the reform risks remaining local in scope, without a real leap in quality.

Global examples demonstrate the effectiveness of such an approach. In countries with well-developed regulation, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, international operators have brought not only capital but also digital monitoring systems, responsible gaming protocols, and automated protection for vulnerable groups. They invest in local infrastructure, create jobs in the IT sector, and ensure stable tax flows without corruption loopholes.

For Ukraine, this is a strategic opportunity to move from reactive to proactive policy. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is clearly maintaining the right course, emphasizing predictability of rules and transparency of the model. And to move to the second step, not only regulatory readiness but also political will is required. One of the key requirements for a civilized market is the presence of international competition. Only in this way will the state gain investor confidence, businesses obtain tools for growth, players receive safety guarantees, and the budget secure stable revenues.

Refusing this direction would mean a return to a closed cycle: local operators without incentives for innovation, a grey segment beyond strict oversight, and lost opportunities for recovery. International companies are not a threat but a catalyst for development. The trajectory of the Ministry of Digital Transformation is the right one: it is time to legally закрепити the next stage so that lotteries become a successful case of reform rather than its weak link.