Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Law No. 9256-d, ordering the dissolution of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) from April 1.
The new law establishes a regulatory authority to oversee Ukraine’s gambling and lottery industries. Key measures include expanded regulatory powers, stricter accountability for operators, and a ban on gambling advertising. Passed by the Verkhovna Rada in April 2024, the legislation restructures gambling sector governance by replacing KRAIL with a “central executive body, and this new authority will develop and enforce state policy on gambling and lotteries in line with Ukraine’s constitution and legal framework.
The new regulatory framework empowers the incoming authority with enhanced responsibilities to strengthen oversight of the gambling market. These duties include drafting and approving gambling-related laws, defining licensing conditions, and implementing real-time monitoring systems. Player identification protocols will also be established to ensure compliance. The authority will also develop methodological guidelines to promote responsible gambling, including limits on daily and weekly playtime, mandatory breaks during sessions, and spending caps that operators must enforce.
The decision to dissolve KRAIL and establish a new regulatory body aims to address inefficiencies and controversies in Ukraine’s gambling sector, legalized in 2020. Key scandals included a $90,000 bribery case in 2021 involving KRAIL member Yevhen Hetman, who facilitated gambling permits in exchange for payments, and a 2024 case against KRAIL head Ivan Rudyi, accused of supporting a Russian-owned online casino despite national security risks.
Authorities also raised concerns about potential data breaches involving Ukrainian military personnel using the casino. Corruption and mismanagement underscored the need for comprehensive reform, leading to KRAIL’s dissolution.
Law No. 9256-d enforces stricter penalties for gambling operators failing to comply with regulations, focusing on licensing, responsible gambling, and advertising bans, and the operators who breach these rules face heavy fines, while the total ban on gambling advertising aims to protect vulnerable populations from targeted promotions.
The new law establishes a regulatory authority to oversee Ukraine’s gambling and lottery industries. Key measures include expanded regulatory powers, stricter accountability for operators, and a ban on gambling advertising. Passed by the Verkhovna Rada in April 2024, the legislation restructures gambling sector governance by replacing KRAIL with a “central executive body, and this new authority will develop and enforce state policy on gambling and lotteries in line with Ukraine’s constitution and legal framework.
The new regulatory framework empowers the incoming authority with enhanced responsibilities to strengthen oversight of the gambling market. These duties include drafting and approving gambling-related laws, defining licensing conditions, and implementing real-time monitoring systems. Player identification protocols will also be established to ensure compliance. The authority will also develop methodological guidelines to promote responsible gambling, including limits on daily and weekly playtime, mandatory breaks during sessions, and spending caps that operators must enforce.
The decision to dissolve KRAIL and establish a new regulatory body aims to address inefficiencies and controversies in Ukraine’s gambling sector, legalized in 2020. Key scandals included a $90,000 bribery case in 2021 involving KRAIL member Yevhen Hetman, who facilitated gambling permits in exchange for payments, and a 2024 case against KRAIL head Ivan Rudyi, accused of supporting a Russian-owned online casino despite national security risks.
Authorities also raised concerns about potential data breaches involving Ukrainian military personnel using the casino. Corruption and mismanagement underscored the need for comprehensive reform, leading to KRAIL’s dissolution.
Law No. 9256-d enforces stricter penalties for gambling operators failing to comply with regulations, focusing on licensing, responsible gambling, and advertising bans, and the operators who breach these rules face heavy fines, while the total ban on gambling advertising aims to protect vulnerable populations from targeted promotions.
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