SOMS – a step toward a transparent gambling market or a test for legislators?

The State Online Monitoring System (SOMS) is one of the most anticipated tools for reforming the gambling market. In September, the State Agency PlayCity announced the signing of an agreement with Computer Information Technologies LLC, the company that won the open tender to create the system. The first phase is scheduled to launch in December, and full functionality should be operational by October 2026.

This is not just a technological project. It is the key to trust between the state, business, and players. If the system works, Ukraine will have a real mechanism for monitoring the market.

What will change with the launch of SOMS

First, monitoring will finally allow us to see the real market volumes and put an end to all the manipulation surrounding this issue.

Second, the system has the potential to become an effective tool for protecting players. It will allow the regulator to track interactions between the organizer and the user in real time, identify violations of responsible gaming principles, and respond to them more quickly.

A technical system without a legal basis will not work

However, we should not overestimate technology. SOMS is only a tool, not a panacea. Without amendments to the Tax Code, its effectiveness will be limited.

Today, there are still discrepancies in the legislation regarding the definition of basic concepts such as "winnings" or "gross gaming revenue (GGR)."

Without unification with international standards, even the most modern system will not be able to ensure transparent reporting. Moreover, the risk of complicating the work of legal organizers is quite real.

The regulator is sending the right signal

Despite these challenges, the very fact that the new regulator has taken on this complex project is a positive sign. It demonstrates an understanding that a stable market is only possible if the rules of the game are predictable for all participants.

If the state can simultaneously improve the legislative framework especially tax legislation, then in a few years the gambling market in Ukraine could transform from a source of conflict into an example of responsible regulation.