Конец КРАИЛ и перезагрузка игорного рынка с 1 апреля: как всегда серьезно, как никогда не смешно
In a country where even tax is like a lottery, and state regulation sometimes raises more questions than answers, the gambling business has long become a separate genre of the national show. Its legalization in 2020 felt like the finale of a long play starring a happy budget. But, as in every real drama, there was no happy ending. Over all these years, we did not get a «transparent» market, but rather a shady game series with new seasons, scandals and guests in the form of law enforcement officers. And now the deck is shuffled again and a new act takes place. To put all the chips on the table — from April 1, April Fool’s Day (or April Fool’s Day), the government decided to do what should be done on this day: eliminate the old regulator and create a new one. Minzifra takes on the role of croupier, and a brilliant new agency — PlayCity — enters the scene. A name that immediately sets the tone for the «seriousness of the process.» It looks more like a children’s maze in a shopping center than a state cerberus of shadow currents. Although, perhaps, this is the ironic transparency of innovation.
What will change from April 1
As reported by the government portal, a real reboot of the gaming industry will begin in Ukraine on April 1 — on this day, the liquidation of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) will officially begin. The government has decided: the end of inefficiency. The old body is being replaced by a new player — the state agency PlayCity, which will operate under the auspices of the Ministry of Digital Affairs.
The name seems to be made of gloss, but the ambitions are quite serious. PlayCity should not just regulate the market, but turn it into a transparent, digital and controlled system. Already from the first steps they promise:
— Licenses should be issued online so that no one can «put them in an envelope».
— Strictly monitor illegal casinos and squeeze shadow business from the market.
— Close the door to gaming platforms that have ties to Russia.
The calculation is simple and clear: less corruption means more taxes. And if everything goes according to plan, the legal gambling market will be able to bring in up to 10 billion hryvnias every year. As the government assures, all these funds will be directed exclusively to the needs of the Defense Forces.
During the reboot of the gambling industry, the new government agency decided to call it PlayCity — this is, of course, not a joke, but a name that, by design, should finally bring order to the field of gambling. But when you hear it, you are more likely to imagine a shopping and entertainment center with trampolines, labyrinths, popcorn and children’s machines than a serious financial control body. In the context of the reform, it almost sounds like a state attempt to say: «Don’t worry, now everything will be not only transparent, but also fun.» PlayCity is, they say, not KRAIL with its strict abbreviation, it is already something modern, light, «friendly to investors». But maybe this is all honesty: now at least it is not hidden that this whole reform is a big game.
The government’s decision was a response to growing public outrage, a wave of gambling addiction and scandals surrounding the activities of the Gambling and Lotteries Regulatory Commission (KRAIL). The government is confident that this reform will provide clear rules for all market participants and effective control by the state, which will help reduce the shadow sector and strengthen the economy of Ukraine. However, doubts about the ability of this move to end the chaos in the industry are growing among the public.
The reform of the regulation of the gambling market in Ukraine was initiated back in August 2020, when the law on the legalization of gambling entered into force, according to which, on the territory of the country, the organization of gambling games was allowed in the relevant establishments in offline and online mode, bookmaking activities, gaming machine halls and poker were legalized. As practice shows, its implementation raises many questions, because until now this area remains extremely problematic. At the same time, transferring the regulation of the gambling business to the Ministry of Digital Affairs is a decision that has its pros and cons.
It is expected that the use of digital technologies will allow more effective monitoring of the activities of operators, the introduction of stricter control mechanisms and the minimization of fraudulent schemes. At the same time, skeptics point to the risks of regulatory monopolization, possible corruption mechanisms and the interests of large market players who can use the changes to their advantage. Supporters of the innovation claim that stricter control over gambling business activities will be implemented from now on. The state will be able to quickly block illegal operators. At the same time, there will be restrictions on gambling advertising, which will reduce their influence on youth and the military.
However, those who notice the negative aspects of the newly created state agency fear the concentration of power in the hands of one department. All this can lead to potential corruption risks when issuing licenses. And game operators will obviously be able to find new loopholes to bypass restrictions, as they managed to do before. Involuntarily, one gets the impression that one department has been replaced by another, simulating work, and our officials are very good at doing this and have demonstrated this approach more than once.
Excitement that goes beyond the limits
The gambling business in Ukraine has grown to incredible proportions since 2020, when it was legalized. Lotteries, casinos and online platforms have received official status, and with it — the uncontrolled distribution of advertising. Banners with promises of easy enrichment flooded the Internet, television and even city streets. All this created a favorable ground for the development of gaming addiction in society.
For data In a study conducted by the Razumkov Center, 8.5% of respondents admitted to playing online casinos and betting on sports. At the same time, it is clear that in reality, this number is much higher, because a stereotype has long been formed in society, according to which playing in a casino is something shameful, and therefore, not everyone is willing to talk about it. It is worth noting that 10% of respondents indicated that they have gamblers in their circle, and 14% have acquaintances among those who make bets on sports. Also, 27% of Ukrainians personally know families where drug addicts live. At the same time, for data service «Opendatabot», according to the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries in 2024, more than 7.8 thousand Ukrainians were added to the registry of ludomaniacs. During the three years of existence of this register, 8,456 people with gambling addiction have added to the list.
Gambling in Ukraine has a double impact on society and economy. On the one hand, the legalization of the gambling business should provide additional revenues to the budget and create new jobs. On the other hand, it is a serious challenge to social stability, because gambling can cause addiction, destroy families and increase the level of poverty among vulnerable population groups. In conditions of insufficient regulation and control, these consequences can become even more catastrophic.
In addition, recent studies conducted in the United States indicate the terrible problems with the psyche of gamblers also indicate that people with gambling problems there are often diagnosed with a number of mental disorders. Constant stress negatively affects all biological systems of the body, weakening immunity and provoking serious consequences for health. This condition leads to changes in personality: the player begins to lie more often, becomes more selfish, his value system changes, and increased aggressiveness is also observed.
Experts say that relentless statistics indicate that every gambler causes financial problems for 5 to 12 people who are not related to gambling. Before applying for loans or giving property to a pawnshop, he begins to take money from his immediate environment. A large part of divorces and destruction of families is connected with the period when addiction to the game becomes uncontrollable. A person, broken by game problems, loses the meaning of life, begins to avoid society and turns into a driven animal.
It should be noted that gambling addiction has become a critical problem among the military as well. They often find themselves trapped in casinos, losing funds that should have gone to support their families. Petition, initiated by military serviceman Pavlo Petrichenko, drew attention to this issue and quickly gained the necessary 25,000 votes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the government to consider restrictions on online casinos, and lawmakers began to develop new control norms.
Alcoholism in the military is often overlooked, but it has serious consequences. During service on the front line, where stress and psychological strain are at their maximum, some soldiers look for «salvation» in gambling. It can be a way to relieve tension or forget about the experience, but such «distractions» often lead to significant financial and personal problems.
The fact that access to gambling has become much easier thanks to online casinos also plays into your hand. But the problem lies not only in the money that goes to waste, but also in the psychological state of the players: gambling increases the feeling of hopelessness and loneliness, and at the same time undermines the ability to make responsible decisions. And when the vacation ends, the player returns to frequent thoughts not about military tasks, but about debts, problems with loved ones and lost control over life.
How gambling business is controlled in the world and what Ukraine should consider
The gambling business is an area that always balances between economic benefits and social risks. Countries approach its regulation in different ways: some create transparent conditions for the operation of operators, others go to extremes — from a complete ban to oligarchic monopolies. Ukraine legalized the gambling market only a few years ago, and is still experimenting and adjusting the rules. The experience of other countries can help to understand which mechanisms work and which are only capable of creating corruption schemes.
In the USA, there is no single approach to the gambling business, because each state decides independently whether to allow or prohibit casinos and bookmaking. For example, in Nevada (Las Vegas) and New Jersey (Atlantic City), the industry thrives under the strict control of regulators, but in the states of Utah and Hawaii, gambling is completely prohibited. However, the general standard is a strict licensing system, a requirement for financial transparency of companies, and severe penalties for tax evasion. An important element of control is the protection of players’ rights and the fight against gaming addiction through special support programs.
Great Britain is considered one of the most successful countries in regulating the gambling business. The UK Gambling Commission not only controls financial flows, but also requires companies to strictly comply with the rules of responsible gaming. The British have introduced an effective licensing system, where each operator must prove that it is able to ensure the integrity of the game and the protection of personal data of users. Players can block their own access to the casino through the GamStop system. In Ukraine, the problem of self-control remains outside the attention of the regulator.
Germany could not decide on a market model for a long time. There, most of the federal states restricted the activities of casinos, due to which players moved to the shadow segment or played on international platforms. Only from 2021, the country adopted new legislation that allows online casinos to work officially, but with strict conditions: bet limits, strict control over the age of players, as well as a state database to identify problematic users. Ukraine should pay attention to the fact that a free market without strict safeguards creates the ground for fraud.
Also, an interesting practice is observed in the foreign gambling market, which consists in the fact that governments allow gambling business operators to direct a part of taxes to finance socially important projects, in addition to special funds to fight gambling addiction. For example, in Spain, part of the income from lotteries is used to support social programs, sports and culture. In Romania, the WinBoss company pays more than 500,000 euros per year in the form of a Responsible gambling fee tax. Ukraine could implement similar targeted deductions so that the gambling business also contributes to solving social problems.
By legalizing the gambling business in 2020, Ukraine took a big step forward, but the country’s control mechanisms are still far from ideal. Problematic points worth paying attention to are related to the transparency of licensing. In Ukraine, it is not always clear what criteria are used to obtain licenses, and the requirements for operators leave room for manipulation. The experience of Britain shows that it is necessary to create a strict system of checks and a public register of licensees. The state should initiate a strict fight against gambling addiction.
Self-regulation of players through a nationwide system of restrictions, as in Great Britain or Germany, should become the norm. It is worth paying attention to the control of financial flows. A clear transaction monitoring system is needed to avoid money laundering. And the protection of the rights of the players themselves must come first. Ukraine needs an effective grievance mechanism and independent arbitration.
However, for the time being, Ukrainian passion is coming out of the shadows — under the soffits of state control. The start of a new regulatory era looks at the same time as an attempt to bring order and as another bet on a «miracle through rebranding». The ministry, which until now was associated with the «Action», will now manage the «action on the ponds», and PlayCity, it seems, will become the next battleground — not only for billions of flows, but also for trust in the state as a player with pure intentions.
It is very significant that April 1 was chosen as the starting date of the big cleaning of the gaming market. After all, when else to start the fight against corruption, if not on April Fool’s Day? One gets the impression that the government is no longer pretending that everything is serious. He just openly says: it’s a game. With a new dealer and name, the same players, but the old rules, which are again written in small print somewhere at the bottom of the table.
Can the digital approach curb the multi-level shadow empire with «covering» and «reshals»? The question is open. But one thing can be said for sure: if this is a game, then it is definitely not for beginners. And the stake is not only money, but also the reputation of the state. And here the main thing is that PlayCity does not turn into PlayDeCityWithout Mind.
