Ukraine's cabinet of ministers approved the country's first long-term cross-agency strategy to combat gambling addiction on 26 August 2026 through resolution №855-р. The strategy runs through 2035, with an operational plan covering 2027–2029. Around 40 state bodies will participate, including regulator PlayCity, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, law enforcement, health and education agencies.
The strategy designates gambling addiction a threat to national security and public health. Seventy-five per cent of respondents consider gambling a serious problem for the country. Kyiv notes that the protracted war exacerbates destructive behaviour patterns, including betting. Special attention goes to military personnel, veterans and vulnerable groups. The regulator recently launched an automated system to block servicemembers' access to online casinos.
The five pillars are promoting healthy lifestyles, expanding medical and social support, encouraging responsible gambling, suppressing the illegal market, and building a data-driven monitoring system. The operational plan includes information campaigns, integrating risk education into school curricula, screening in medical facilities, access to psychological support and rehabilitation. Specialised prevention programmes will be developed for the military.
Scale of the black market
Thirty-four licensed operators were active in Ukraine as of 1 January. Between June and December 2025, PlayCity identified 2,844 illegal sites — an average of 113 per licensee — and 76 illegal land-based venues. Estimates place 39–53% of activity in the grey sector.
A Ministry of Digital Transformation study found that 86% of 2,676 respondents prefer licensed casinos, and 78% do not plan to switch to illegal platforms. One in five knows friends who play on unlicensed sites. Reasons cited: fast registration without identity verification (33%), anonymity (17%), absence of limits (16%). Three hundred and eight patients carry a formal diagnosis of pathological gambling disorder (ICD-10 F63.0); fewer than 100 receive state-funded treatment each year.
