Gennady Novikov, Head of Ukraine’s PlayCity, has submitted his resignation, saying he is leaving the role confident that the regulator has built a strong foundation for the future.
He announced his decision on social media, stating: "I'm leaving my position with the feeling that we've laid the right foundation. And I'm also making this decision in good faith – what I believe is right for the institute, the team and the state."
Among the agency’s key achievements since its launch last June, Novikov highlighted the creation of its team, the resumption of gambling licensing, which generated nearly UAH 2bn ($44.8m) in budget revenue and the development of the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS).
According to Novikov, 28 out of 30 licensed gambling operators are already connected to SOMS. He added that everything is ready for the announcement of a tender for the second phase of its implementation.
Novikov further added: "SOMS should be fully operational this year. This is critically important for control, taxes, and fair play."
Other measures introduced under Novikov’s leadership include blocking more than 9,500 illegal gambling websites and mirror domains, removing more than 700 social media pages linked to illegal gambling advertising and introducing new responsible gambling tools.
PlayCity also worked with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence to introduce restrictions limiting military personnel’s access to gambling, resumed scheduled gambling business inspections following a 2022 moratorium and established anti-corruption monitoring procedures.
Alongside Novikov’s departure, PlayCity underwent another significant change in its oversight. Following a recent decision by the Cabinet of Ministers, the regulator has been placed under the direct supervision of the Cabinet. Previously, PlayCity operated under the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
PlayCity has announced that the selection of its next head will be conducted through a transparent and competitive process
