The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution banning military personnel from gambling. The head of PlayCity, Genandy Novikov, reported this on social media. In March, the Ministry of Digital Transformation prepared this resolution.
According to Novikov, there will be automatic player verification when registering with a gambling operator. The operating systems must request information from two sources simultaneously, including the self-exclusion registry and the registry of military personnel currently being developed by the Ministry of Defence.
PlayCity, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, is developing the technical solution, while data exchange will occur via the state-owned Trembita system.
Meanwhile, last month, the Ministry of Digital Transformation linked gambling to wartime national security risk. The ministry said that during the war, problem gambling has become not only a social and medical issue but also a factor contributing to financial and psychological vulnerability among citizens, increasing exposure to manipulation during wartime.
Authorities are also preparing a long-term strategy running to 2035 aimed at reducing harm and strengthening oversight of the sector. Particular attention will be given to the illegal gambling market, which operates through VPNs, cryptocurrencies and mirror websites.
The Strategy for Minimising the Negative Impact of Gambling and Combating Gambling Addiction to 2035 sets out a shift towards prevention and early detection rather than reactive measures.
More than 40 government bodies are expected to be involved in implementation. The Ministry of Health will oversee early diagnosis and treatment programmes, while the Ministry of Education will lead awareness campaigns targeting young people.
Regulator PlayCity recently announced that the selection of its next head will be conducted through a transparent and competitive process
