Ukrainian Parliament Registers Draft Law on Regulation of Gambling Industry

Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, has registered a draft Law “On State Regulation of Activities in the Organization and Conduct of Gambling.” The Government’s bill aims to comprehensively streamline the organisation and conduct of gambling.

Adoption of the bill will allow to regulate the problem of illegal gambling business distribution and prevent gaming addiction. The legalisation of gambling business will also increase revenues of the budget up to UAH 5 billion, but the final figures of the expected budget earnings will depend on the version the MPs adopt the law.

Since 2009, the Law of Ukraine “On Prohibition of Gambling in Ukraine” has been in force. But the results of this ban have led to gambling being a shadow business and their organisers receiving a surplus; the State budget has not been filled through taxes and fees from such gambling industry.