A law has already been officially signed in Ukraine to legalize the gambling business. Recall that on July 14, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading voted for a bill that would legalize gambling in the country. On August 11, 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the relevant law.
But at the same time, there are a number of restrictions and rules that you need to know and remember in order to manage a casino without problems and at the same time use all the tools of the gambling business. Indeed, in the second reading, the Verkhovna Rada supported the bill No. 2285-d, for which 248 people’s deputies voted.
International operators have already expressed their interest in working on the Ukrainian market. Big brands like Parismatch and Michael Boettcher’s Shangri La by Storm International see great promise in this European country.
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What Has Become Possible In Gambling?
In the considered draft law on the official legalization of the gambling business:
- discloses the scope of the virtual casino, in which people who are over 21 can participate;
- the rules and conditions for the bookmakers legalization in Ukraine are indicated;
- you can get acquainted with the regulations on the organization and conduct of lottery draws, as well as questions regarding online video poker games and other fun for real currency.
Where Is It Available To Place A Casino In Ukraine?
In addition to a 5-star hotels, with a fund of 150 rooms (in Kyiv), and for other cities from 100 rooms, you can use suburban complexes with an area of 10 thousand m2, where at least 2 buildings are located, one of which – a hotel with a five-star service.
Gambling zones in special complexes will be designed for gambling gameplay and equipped accordingly.
It is planned to form special zones for gambling under the control of the Cabinet of Ministers – gambling complexes will be located outside settlements or within cities, but far from residential areas.
In the near future, Ukraine intends to form up to 5 similar special zones for casinos.
Halls with licensed slot machines are allowed to be placed in hotel complexes from 3 to 5 stars with a minimum number of rooms from 50 (for the territory of the capital of Ukraine – in Kyiv) and from 25 rooms for other cities and towns.
For the legal operation of a gambling club, an official license is provided for 250 machines, although a gambling hall must have at least 50 units.
Bookmakers in Ukraine are allowed not only through the Internet, but also in the zones of land-based gambling complexes. But such elite clubs can be based only on the territory of the hippodrome, and in hotels from 3 to 5 stars.
Commission On Gambling And Lotteries Regulation Will Appear In Ukraine
On September 23, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution on the establishment of the Commission for the Gambling and Lotteries Regulation. The working group will be chaired by the Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhail Fedorov.
According to Nemchinov, such a structure is required by the Law “On state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling”, which entered into force on August 13, 2020.
The minister also noted that according to the decree, the Commission will be in Kyiv. It will employ 230 people, including the chairman and six members of the commission. According to the Ministry of Digital Development, the working group will be headed by the Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhail Fedorov.
Oleg Nemchinov also spoke about the main task of the regulator – the Commission will act as a licensing body for economic activities in the lottery sector. Among the functions:
- receiving and considering applications for licensing;
- making decisions on the issuance, renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses;
- decisions on expansion or contraction of economic activity by the licensee;
- creation of open registers with data on the organizers of gambling, as well as an online monitoring system.
- The Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries is scheduled to launch in November 2020.
Large International Operators Are Interested In The Ukrainian Market
Ukraine has become one of the last countries in Europe to have a detailed law on the operation of casinos. Most of the neighboring countries legalized gambling activities many years ago, support the development of this area and receive profits for the budget. Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Latvia have their own peculiarities of casino operation, which made it possible to create a law in Ukraine based on the experience of these countries.
Since Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe, it has large cities and large resort areas, international operators see promising places for opening casino complexes. Darren Keane, Shangri La managing director, believes there is a great niche in millionaire cities for developing VIP casinos. Parismatch’s management is already consulting with lawyers to enter the Ukrainian market.
Experts believe that the benefits of legalizing the gambling industry will be not only in replenishing the budget. Practice shows that opening a casino improves infrastructure and creates jobs. For example, in the numerous units of Storm International, Darren Keane noted, many Ukrainian citizens work. And they will gladly return to their homeland when complexes with decent wages open in order to work closer to their families.
