Priority tasks of the new national gambling regulator PlayCity

Despite the ongoing war and political challenges, changes in the gambling market are still underway. Notably, a new national gambling regulator, PlayCity, has replaced the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL). The newly established body is expected to evolve into a modern and efficient institution capable of addressing the key challenges facing the gambling sector.

Recently, the Government approved the regulations on the activities of PlayCity, a new state body in the field of gambling regulation. The agency is being created as a technocratic body that should be guided not by political and bureaucratic interests, but by the logic of digitalisation, openness and security for all market participants - players, legal organisers and the state. The main functions of the regulator have been defined as follows:

• Market oversight through online monitoring

• Resumption of the licensing process, including the issuance and revocation of licences

• Effective enforcement against illegal operators

• Supervision of state lotteries

  
  

At the same time, it will take time and several key organizational steps for the new regulator to operate effectively. First and foremost, the agency's structure must be approved, a staffing plan developed, and a team of specialists selected for the main operational areas. This is precisely what PlayCity's management is currently working on. And it is important to create an effective team capable of implementing reforms in wartime and constant pressure from the illegal segment, including lotteries .

In general, combating illegal operators should be one of the new regulator's key priorities. The unlicensed operation of casinos, use of illegal software, tax evasion, and disguising gambling as lotteries — all of these practices must be eradicated with the support of PlayCity. The agency will be able to cooperate with law enforcement, tax authorities, and other relevant bodies to respond swiftly to such violations.

The new regulator will also place significant emphasis on digital tools. An online monitoring system will enable real-time tracking of transactions by licensed gambling operators. This should enhance player safety and accelerate the response to violations. In this way, the regulator aims to reduce opportunities for abuse and implement mechanisms for promptly influencing the market — ideally leading to effective regulation of the online gambling sector.

It is also worth emphasising the social component of the new regulator's activities. Protecting players, especially vulnerable categories, fighting gambling addiction and informing the public about the rules of responsible gambling will be among the responsibilities of PlayCity.

Given the scope and scale of its tasks, it appears that PlayCity will be equipped with real tools of influence and will not remain a nominal regulator without meaningful authority. This should enable the newly established agency to achieve its key objective—not merely to control the market, but to create a transparent and well-coordinated ecosystem in which players are protected, licensees are properly supervised and safeguarded, and taxes and licence fees are fully paid into the state budget.

Thus, the creation of PlayCity is more than just an administrative shift; it represents an attempt to reboot Ukraine's legal gambling market by making it transparent and secure. If the new regulator succeeds in achieving its objectives, it could significantly enhance player protection and increase gambling-related revenues. In turn, this would strengthen the state’s financial capacity to fund essential expenditures related to national security and defence.