Taras Shevchenko elected President of Ukrainian gambling operators association

Taras Shevchenko has been elected President of the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators (AUOGB), replacing Oleksandr Kohut as the organisation continues its work around regulatory reform and illegal gambling.

Shevchenko, a government relations and public policy specialist with more than 15 years of experience, was appointed following a meeting of the association’s members.

His stated priorities include promoting consistent rules for Ukraine’s licensed gambling market, strengthening action against illegal operators and developing responsible gambling measures.

The association also intends to expand dialogue between licensed businesses and state authorities.

Shevchenko said Ukraine’s gambling market reform remains incomplete and argued that AUOGB should act as a professional partner to the state by providing data, expertise and proposed solutions.

He also called for predictable conditions for licensed businesses alongside player protections and effective measures against unlicensed gambling.

AUOGB said combating the illegal market will remain a specific area of focus. According to the association, additional requirements imposed on licensed operators should be accompanied by systematic enforcement against illegal businesses to maintain equal competitive conditions.

Additionally, the organisation plans to strengthen its analytical activities, represent Ukraine’s iGaming sector internationally and continue developing responsible gambling tools.

Before joining AUOGB as President, Shevchenko led Glovo’s government relations activities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. His responsibilities covered Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, while his previous experience also includes legislative affairs and business-government relations.

The appointment comes as Ukraine prepares further gambling reforms. The Government is developing changes to lottery licensing and market access, while authorities have also strengthened responsible gambling measures and enforcement against illegal operators.