Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has revoked the licence of lottery operator Patriot, which had been active for less than a month. The regulator said the decision followed a determination that the operator’s ultimate beneficial owner did not meet legal requirements, although no further details were provided.
The action was taken after information supplied by the State Bureau of Investigation. PlayCity noted that law enforcement agencies are involved in the licensing process to carry out thorough checks on companies and their affiliations.
The decision comes as part of wider efforts to regulate and formalise Ukraine’s lottery sector following years of limited oversight. In early March, the country issued its first lottery licences in more than 12 years, generating over UAH 72m (€1.7m) in revenue for the state budget as authorities moved to formalise the market.
The licences were awarded by PlayCity to three operators: MSL, Patriot and Ukrainian National Lottery. The other two licences are expected to remain valid for the duration of martial law plus one additional year, although they cannot last for less than three years.
In parallel, regulators and policymakers are reviewing broader changes to the country’s gambling framework. A public consultation has been opened on proposed amendments to gambling legislation and the tax system. The Ministry has also drafted a resolution that would ban military personnel from accessing gambling products.
However, a Kantar study commissioned by the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators (AUOGB) found that gambling addiction among military personnel is roughly in line with the general population.
Oleksandr Kohut, president of the AUOGB, warned that restricting military access to online casino products could instead drive activity towards illegal operators.
According to National Bank of Ukraine data, the gambling industry reached a total turnover of UAH 158bn ($3.6bn) in 2025, with GGR of UAH 56bn
