The government of Ukraine will tap the UK for experience in gambling regulation as it looks to overhaul its oversight of the sector.
The parties will discuss striking a balance between effective oversight and overregulation, the Ukrainian media outlet Sport.Ua reported.
Gambling protection and new requirements for operators are also on the agenda, with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, Natalia Denikeeva, set to hold talks with the UK Gambling Commission.
Ministry officials say they hope to strike a memorandum of cooperation agreement at their next meeting.
More Reforms on the Way
Kyiv officials have also indicated they may pursue further reforms, just over a year after creating PlayCity, the new gaming regulator.
Officials say that PlayCity, currently an affiliate of the Digital Transformation ministry, could soon transition to “direct government oversight.”
The same media outlet reported that a potential transfer of authority to the Ministry of Finance is under discussion.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian media outlet UNN reported that the Responsible Gambling Center (RGC), a leading NGO, will travel to several European destinations to seek pointers for Kyiv regulators.
RGC officials will travel to Tallinn on September 7 to learn about Estonian regulatory approaches and methods for preventing gambling addiction.
The NGO will meet with the Estonian ministries of Social Affairs and Finance, as well as the National Institute for Health and Development.
RGC officials will also hold a series of meetings with government officials, European gaming operators, and mental health professionals in Lisbon, Portugal.
Most Ukrainians Do Not Gamble but Back Strict Regulation
According to a survey of 3,164 Ukrainians, 84% of all respondents did not classify themselves as gamblers, with one in three highlighting that they do not know anyone in their circle who gambles. Only 5% of surveyed said they’ve gambled in the last 12 months, while just 2% did so in the last 30 days.
Around 70% of the total survey pool said that the biggest incentive for playing is the desire to win money. The second most quoted factor was excitement (41%). Around 17% believe that advertising or the need for a distraction drives people towards gambling.
What’s more, 74% of respondents are in favour of more player protection measures, with 67% hoping for more regulation overall.
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