On Saturday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on neutralizing the negative effects of online gambling. This statute will ban the activity for all military personnel until the end of martial law.

Ukrainian serviceman Pavlo Petrychenko introduced a petition on March 29 to combat problem gambling 

Zelensky supported the National Security and Defense Council’s plan after he had announced the government’s decision to pass stricter laws against the online gambling industry within the country.

In the first two months of 2024, the gambling industry in Ukraine paid Hr 2.2 billion ($56 million) in taxes, and Hr 10.4 billion ($267 million) in 2023, according to Danylo Hetmantsev, the chairman of the parliamentary Finance Committee.

Of course, gambling was first legalized in Ukraine in 2020. Because of the ongoing war with Russia, gambling has negatively impacted the mental health of soldiers and civilians. This has led to an unexpected surge in problem gambling. 

Ukrainian soldier Pavlo Petrychenko introduced a petition on March 29, calling for strict regulations on online casinos. Military members use gambling as a “coping mechanism for stress, often leading to addiction,” Petrychenko said. 

When Petrychenko was killed in action on April 15, his petition gained immediate support from Ukrainians. After his death, the petition received the required 25,000 signatures for consideration.

Key directives of the gambling decree

Key points of the decree include blocking illegal gambling websites, restricting online casino advertising, establishing an online monitoring system, ordering Ukrainian SBU security service to conduct inspections of gambling organizers, putting a cap on money wagered, and limiting weekly gaming sessions.

Tech giants Google and Apple were also contacted by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation to ban unlicensed gambling apps from both the Google Play Store and App Store.

Additionally, Zelenskyy is pushing for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to prohibit the registration of multiple accounts for a single bettor. This decree will restrict gambling advertisers from using the symbols of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Not to mention, it will form a national information and awareness campaign to encourage responsible gambling. 

The SBU will reportedly complete inspections of gambling organizers within two months. Plus, the Ukrainian National Bank has been instructed to help banks block payments to gambling organizers that use credit funds.