Licensed gambling in Ukraine – the opinion of the authorities and operators

Recall that the decision to legalize the gambling business in Ukraine was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the summer of 2020. The decision was made as part of the fight against shadow market participants and the redirection of their income to the country’s budget. Intermediate and final calculations showed that the sale of permits for gambling activities replenished the treasury of the independent by more than twenty million US dollars. Taking into account the fact that since the beginning of 2021 and at the moment, CRAIL, the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries of Ukraine, has issued a total of 18 licenses. The authorities are pleased with the result. But operators who have decided to legally earn money and honestly pay tax deductions feel all the “dark sides” of the current legislation. In their opinion, high license prices and high taxes create great barriers to doing business. They also believe that it is necessary to introduce additional measures of regulation, management and support from the regulatory body. Despite the difficulties and high prices for permits, the list of Ukrainian hotels with purchased gambling licenses is regularly updated with new names. The My Lucky Story edition published earlier the statement of the head of CRAIL – Ivan Rudy on the formation of the price for licenses and the distribution of funds received through the sale.