Ukrainian Gambling Commission Receives 600+ License Applications in 2022
Published January 18, 2023 by Elana K
According to new information released by the Ukrainian Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) 667 gaming operators applied for gaming licenses in 2022. KRAIL only issued 603. The 63 license applications that were not approved were due to mistakes that were made in the applications themselves. Only one application was outright rejected.
According to new information released by the Ukrainian Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) 667 gaming operators applied for gaming licenses in 2022. KRAIL only issued 603. The 63 license applications that were not approved were due to mistakes that were made in the applications themselves. Only one application was outright rejected.
Of the licenses that were issued, 593 were slot licenses, three were to allow online gaming at all, another three were for online gambling services, and four licenses were for online bookmaking.
Approximately half of the licenses issued were done during martial law, which was enacted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which is still underway.
In addition to the 603 gaming licenses that KRAIL issued, it also issued 17 permits to ratify gambling premises (out of 33 applications).
Ukrainian Gaming Activities Under the Specter of War
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, starting the nearly year-long Russia-Ukraine war. As bombs are dropping and houses are being destroyed, Ukrainians are trying to go on with their lives as normally as possible.
However, this is not easy. At the beginning of the war, land-based gambling venues were closed, but slowly started to open several months in. However, they are subject to the rules of martial law, which have been extended until February 2023 and impose curfews of varying times.
Of course, online gambling has been legal since 2020 and is still quite popular in Ukraine. For some, it’s the only access to gambling they have.
The Online Gambling Industry Supports Ukraine
In September 2022, the acting head of KRAIL, Olena Vodolashko, said that the commission’s main mission is the “isolation of Russian in the gambling sphere.” Toward this end, in December 2022 KRAIL canceled three licenses that were issued to Russian-backed operators. KRAIL has also been active in seeking the support of the European gambling industry, which has been positive, overall.
In fact, the gambling industry’s response has been one of overwhelming support for Ukraine. The Association of European Lotteries suspended the membership of lottery operators from Russia and Belarus. Parimatch, an international sports betting company, has donated more than $500K to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Pragmatic Play, a gaming software developer, has donated approximately $125,000. Stake, an online gambling website, donated $1 million to Ukrainian humanitarian efforts.
All in all, the Ukrainian gambling market is continuing to grow, as evidenced by the hundreds of applications KRAIL received in 2022. Moreover, the country has the support of the international community, which gives hope that it will rebuild and regenerate into a thriving local industry once more.
