Ukraine’s gambling regulator, PlayCity, has proposed tighter controls on playing time and spend as part of its updated recommendations on responsible gambling.
The proposed guidelines would require operators to monitor not only how much players spend but also how long they play, the length of breaks, changes to spending limits and signs of unusual gambling behaviour.
Under the proposals, players would have to set spending and time limits before accessing gambling services. Online operators would be expected to block access until limits are established, while land-based venues would apply the same requirement during player identification.
Players could immediately reduce their limits but would have to wait at least 24 hours before increasing them. Spending limits may also be changed no more than once per month per limit type.
PlayCity also proposes stricter time controls. Playing time would be measured from the moment a player places a bet rather than when they log in. After two hours of continuous play, operators would be expected to impose a break of at least 15 minutes. Breaks shorter than 15 minutes would not reset the continuous play period.
Spending limits could be linked to a player's average monthly income, with operators potentially able to request proof of income where unusual activity or suspicious transactions are identified.
Players would receive warnings after reaching 75% of their applicable limit. Once a limit is reached, further deposits, balance top-ups and bet payments would be blocked.
The proposed system would apply limits across all gambling products offered by an operator, preventing players from switching between games or venues to bypass restrictions.
These types of measures are typical for mature, well-regulated markets. While Ukraine may appear to be ‘getting there', the country has spent recent years trying to establish a proper framework for the sector, but has repeatedly fallen short of its goals.
Thus, the latest measures may face the same fate as the Online Monitoring System (SOMS), whose deployment has been delayed for years and is only now entering its second phase of implementation.
Ukraine legalised online gambling in 2020 after more than a decade of prohibition. Six years on, authorities are still working to strengthen the regulatory framework and close oversight gaps.
The sector is currently facing growing concerns about transparency, tax evasion, suspected illegal payments and potential money laundering risks. Global Gaming Insider explored these issues in depth in the August issue of Trafficology.
In late August, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers approved the country’s first Strategy to Combat Gaming Addiction
