The Principles of Responsible Gaming are the foundation of the gambling business’s social responsibility towards players. Previously, this document had no legal force in Ukraine, although it established the rules that licensed gambling operators were expected to follow to reduce the risks of gambling addiction and harmful behavior. Recently, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine updated and officially approved new principles, expanding their scope. Now, compliance with them has become a mandatory requirement for obtaining a gambling license.
Anton Kuchukhidze, Head of the Ukrainian Gambling Council, discussed how the updated principles of responsible gaming are altering the rules for operators.
After the revision, the number of principles increased from 8 to 10. Among the changes were the introduction of the principle of “no incentives to play,” as well as the separation of the previously combined concepts of “self-control” and “self-restraint.”
Of particular importance is the new principle of “no incentives to play.” It obliges licensed operators to refrain from any actions that encourage a player to continue gambling after deciding to stop. For example, if a player chooses to close their account, they must be able to do so without receiving any offers or incentives to stay. This is especially important because previously the principles of responsibility mainly applied to the absence of incentives during the game itself.
The changes also affected other aspects of the gambling process. Now, the game can only begin after the player sets their own time and financial limits. All forms of rewarding players for losses by operators are prohibited. In addition, players can now instantly submit an online application to block access to gambling at any time and use other self-protection tools.
It is expected that the updated principles will make gambling safer and more transparent for players, reducing the likelihood of gambling addiction. This is an important step toward building a more civilized and controlled gambling market where the risks of addiction are minimized.
The key change is that compliance with the responsible gaming rules has become a mandatory requirement for obtaining a license. The government made this decision on September 15, 2025. Thus, operators who paid tens of millions of hryvnias for their licenses risk losing them in case of violations.
Strengthening the state’s role in regulating the gambling sector and preventing gambling addiction is a global trend that Ukraine cannot ignore. The fact that the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the new regulator, PlayCity, have made the implementation of these principles a priority and established them as mandatory gives reason to believe that the completion of gambling market reform will move faster. At the same time, there is hope for equally consistent measures in adapting tax legislation, introducing a state-owned gambling system, and strengthening control over illegal operators.
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