Latest News
A briefing from Parimatch on the legalization of betting in Ukraine
 Reading Time:  5 minutes
Reading Time:  5 minutes
Context
In 2009, after a fire incident in the gaming hall in Dnepropetrovsk city, gambling was banned in Ukraine. The ban, however, was supposed to be an intermediate “stage” in the development of the gambling market: it was assumed that gambling would be banned for a certain period and would be legalised with the adoption of new legislation. The goal of developing new legislation was to create a “civilised” gambling market that ensures the safety of players, protection from fraud and the banning of corruption.
After 10 years without such legislation, now there is a real attempt to change the situation and create a regulated r gambling market in Ukraine. A new draft law on legalization of gambling in Ukraine (draft law No 2285) was released on the official website of the parliament last week — on October 23. The law was drafted after President Zelenskyi promised to legalize betting as part of his agenda to liberalize the economy.
As stated by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk, the regulation is aimed at a developing a fair and regulated market that also eliminates the illegal and corrupt betting shops and halls that are currently able to operate across cities. Finance Minister Oksana Markarova also said that they estimates that a regulated betting market will bring an additional 5-9 bln UAH of potential tax revenue to the state budget.
However, the bill was published over three weeks late from the initially announced deadline. Moreover, the text of the bill itself was released only one week later after the official records of its registration in the parliament. As stated by some Ukrainian journalists and parliament’s insiders, the delay was because of different interested stakeholder groups trying to influence the legislation.
As the head of the parliamentary majority faction ‘Servant of the people’ David Arakhamia noted: “MPs and an expert group worked on the one version of the document, and the Cabinet of Ministers suddenly submitted its own version to the Ukrainian parliament – there are a number aspects of the Bill which currently fall short of the best standards and regulation initially proposed by MP’s and the expert working group.” Later on, another MP from the same majority faction (Servant of the people) Oleksandr Dubinsky also announced his firm intention to register an alternative draft law on gambling regulation.
What is included in the legislation?
The current version of the draft law released on the parliament’s website proposes a new licence system for betting operators. However, the number of licenses will be limited. For example, there will be only 20 for the whole country for casinos, 80 for bookmakers, 10 for online casinos, 5 for poker clubs and 5 for online poker clubs and 160 for slot machine halls. There will also be 10 licences for online operators, covering both sports betting and online casinos.
The market will be overseen by a newly created “Commission for the development and regulation of gambling market” The commission will conduct the auctions and have the power to revoke licenses, as well as implement further regulation to the industry. This body will consist of 7 members (all from Ukraine). Its chairman and members are appointed and dismissed by the government of Ukraine – the Cabinet of Ministers. The commission’s members should be the citizens of Ukraine, who have higher (in public administration and administration, specialized, economic or legal) education, experience in management positions of at least three years over the last ten years. However, its chairman and members should not be the owners of the corporate rights of gambling organizers, manufacturers of gambling equipment, receive financial or material remuneration and assistance from them, or hold any position.
The licences will be obtained through electronic auctions. However, the rules and procedures for the auctions, criteria and requirements for the participation are not determined yet. They are expected to be determined by the new Commission for the development and regulation of gambling market.
One of the most important provisions of the draft law is that the licences will be given for all types of gambling, both offline and online: casino, bookmakers, poker games, offline lotteries and slot machines. The licences will be valid for 5 years.
The starting price for licences has been already determined and is tied to the amount of the monthly subsistence minimum for able-bodied citizens in Ukraine. The exception is a lottery license, the price of which is not indicated and will be determined by the Commission for the development and regulation of gambling market.
The most expensive licence will be for a casino in Kyiv city – around 37.5 mln UAH per year (approx. 1.5 mln USD). The licence for a casino in other cities, online casino and bookmakers will cost from 25 mln UAH (≈1 mln USD), license for slot machines – from 7.5 mln UAH (≈3 mln USD). The poker club will cost the organizers the cheapest price – both offline and online, the license price starts at 1.25 million UAH (≈50K USD).
Each gambling table in a casino for the year costs another 1.5 million UAH (≈60K USD) for roulette or 750K (≈30K USD) for other sports. Each slot machine will also cost UAH 30k a year. The annual license of a betting shop (land-based) will cost UAH 750k.
Such a high entry price threshold, together with the requirement for an authorized capital of at least 30 million UAH, should guarantee that only serious operators will enter the market.
For bookmakers, the draft law will allow 800 land-based facilities throughout Ukraine for all operators, the opening of which is allowed only in non-residential premises. There is also a city distribution – 32 licenses for Kyiv (capital city of Ukraine), 16 – for Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Lviv (but no more than 40 betting shops for each city), and another 32 – for other cities.
The legislation includes the creation of a special fund – a finance to support healthcare, culture and sports. This would be a special fund of the state budget of Ukraine, which will be financed through the license payments and will distributed to these areas.
There is a restriction of the access for foreign players as the draft law says that verification/identification of a customer requires an identity document and a copy of an Individual Taxpayer Number (which is issued by the Ukrainian tax services). As a result, this restriction makes almost impossible the access of foreign players.
With regards to responsible betting, the new legislation introduces the practice of self-restriction for players. Any player can ask an operator of a regulatory commission for a self-restriction for a period of 6 months to 3 years. If a person does not recognize the existence of a gambling problem, his relatives can also implement this restriction. The draft law requires operators to be socially responsible and take care of the players, including promoting material on gaming addiction and providing players with information about medical institutions. The operators will also be required to ensure customer service will be able to identify and provide counsel around gambling addiction
What’s next?
The draft law is going to pass through debates and the procedure of proposals and amendments in the Ukrainian parliament, but several MPs already announced their intent to submit alternative versions of draft laws on gambling regulation. There is a need to make a process more open to allow the participation of the expert community and public in further elaboration of the rules for the legalised market. Any approved regulation has to receive a public legitimacy as it sets the tone for the development of a transparent and fair industry.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: A briefing from Parimatch on the legalization of betting in Ukraine
 
																	
																															Latest News
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Season 2 Finale: Kelly Kehn on Opening iGaming to New Founders
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Lisbon’s streets set the pace for Season 2 of GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives—the drive-time podcast where iGaming’s most interesting voices speak freely. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech, each episode captures raw insight, candid stories, and the energy you can only find on the road.
Episode 4 of the Season 2 finale puts the spotlight on Kelly Kehn, founder, board member, and startup advisor in gaming. As co-founder of Defy the Odds (DTO), she’s building a launchpad and community connecting startups, investors, and operators—with a focus on female and minority founders. Previously, she co-founded the All-In Diversity Project, held ecosystem roles at happyhour.io and SBC, and serves on boards including FUNNZ.
During the ride, Kelly opens up about:
- Why iGaming events matter: the community, access, and acceleration you only get in the room.
- Defy the Odds (DTO): why she and her co-founders built it, what it is, and how founders plug in.
- Women in iGaming: real challenges and how to lower the barrier to entry; inclusion as a growth strategy.
- Pitch ideas that paid off and common startup pitch mistakes.
- The next possible unicorn in iGaming and what makes it possible.
- Soundtrack to success: the song for a win, the pre-coaching track, and the one that sums up her career.
- The boldest ideas: intention, asking for help, and doing the homework.
- The unwritten rule of iGaming.
- Halloween rubric: the scariest moments in life and career, and why saying the hard thing out loud matters.
- Kelly’s Champion Rule: Be kind to yourself and to others.
“As Kelly said, ‘When we open the space to more people and more perspectives, we all win and the pie gets bigger.’ This episode was the perfect finish of our Season 2 in Lisbon,” said Krazhan.
Watch or listen to Season 2, Episode 4 with Kelly Kehn on:
Season 2 of Bet It Drives launched with Rasmus Sojmark, kept pace with Tiago Pereira and Kyrylo Korobka, and now crosses the line with Kelly Kehn in the finale. But still, don’t unbuckle yet: Season 3 is coming soon with more interesting conversations and more reasons to hit play. Follow GR8 Tech to stay in the loop.
The next chapter of iGaming belongs to champions who play smart and bold. Join GR8 Tech at SiGMA Central Europe 2025, Rome, November 3–6, booth 5028-2, and discover the Heavyweight Rulebook—built for operators ready to scale, localize, and win.
The post GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Season 2 Finale: Kelly Kehn on Opening iGaming to New Founders appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
GambleAware Warns Outdated Gambling Advertising and Marketing Regulations are Leaving Children at Risk of Gambling Harm
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Regulations for online gambling marketing must urgently be brought into the digital age, a new report from the charity GambleAware has warned.
The report reveals that despite gambling being an age-restricted product, children are being exposed to gambling marketing online, before they reach an age at which they can critically evaluate it. This is leading to gambling being normalised and portrayed as “risk-free”, which increases the risk of them experiencing gambling harm.
Gambling harms are becoming an increasing part of children’s lives, with previous research finding that in 2024, around 85,000 children in Britain were experiencing harm from their own gambling, a figure which has doubled since 20233. GambleAware’s new report highlights how seeing gambling marketing and content, online and via social and streaming platforms, could be encouraging children to gamble and contributing to the number experiencing harm.
The new report calls out poor regulation of gambling marketing online, highlighting how more needs to be done to ensure the rules reflect the unique challenges presented by the digital age and urges a reduction in self-regulation to protect children from being exposed to age-restricted gambling content. Alongside this, GambleAware is also calling for mandatory health warnings to be put on all gambling marketing so people are aware of the risks and support available.
Specific changes to help protect children could include moves to hold online platforms to greater account and ensuring existing government programmes, such as the Online Safety Act and Online Advertising Programme, more directly address gambling marketing and content online. Alongside this, other recommendations include the alignment and strengthening of online safety regulatory powers and programmes.
GambleAware research also found strong public support from children and adults for changes to gambling marketing and advertising regulation. Around four in five children (79%) say they want more rules around gambling content and advertising on social media. Alongside this, over seven in ten adults also agree, saying they want more regulation around gambling advertising on social media (74%) and gambling related content on social media (70%).
Anna Hargrave, GambleAware Transition CEO, said: “Gambling operators invest significant resources into online marketing because it works at getting people to gamble more. This has resulted in children and young people being exposed to gambling content online before an age at which they can critically evaluate it and understand the risks that come with it.
“The current regulations covering gambling marketing and advertising online were designed before most children had easy access to the internet. Urgent action is needed to update these rules and bring them into the digital age to help keep children and young people safe from gambling harm.”
The post GambleAware Warns Outdated Gambling Advertising and Marketing Regulations are Leaving Children at Risk of Gambling Harm appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Betbazar’s AI Revolution: Where Algorithms Play and Humans Watch
 Max Sevostianov, CCO at Betbazar, reveals how AI Cricket blurs the line between sport, tech and entertainment — creating a 24/7 AI sports universe — where every match feels alive and every second counts.
Max Sevostianov, CCO at Betbazar, reveals how AI Cricket blurs the line between sport, tech and entertainment — creating a 24/7 AI sports universe — where every match feels alive and every second counts.
- How did the idea of creating AI-driven Cricket come about?
It started from our roots in Live Data Feed and Live Content. We constantly saw the same demand from operators worldwide — they needed fast, round-the-clock sports content that actually feels alive. Traditional virtuals didn’t cut it anymore; they were too static, too predictable.
Cricket, with its global fanbase and built-in drama, became the perfect playground for something new. We wanted to merge sports logic, AI, and entertainment to create a product that doesn’t just simulate a match — it lives one. That’s how AI Cricket was born: a fast, emotional, and unpredictable experience built for the next generation who expect energy, not repetition.
- What market gap does this product fill – and which Operators or regions is it most relevant for?The biggest gap we saw was the “dead zone” between traditional virtuals and real sports. Virtual games looked repetitive and lifeless, while real matches were limited by schedules and logistics. Bettors were stuck between predictability and waiting.
AI Cricket closes that gap completely. It runs 24/7, behaves like a real sport with live odds movement, and keeps the unpredictability that makes real competition exciting. It’s already resonating strongly in cricket-driven regions — India, Bangladesh, Australia, and across Africa — where players crave constant, authentic action that never sleeps.
- AI Cricket offers a short dynamic format (3–6 minutes). How does it align with the behavior trends of the Next Generation of bettors?Today’s bettors live in a scroll culture. They want action, not waiting. The next generation grew up on TikTok clips, Reels, and esports rounds that last minutes, not hours. That shift completely changed attention patterns — and we built AI Cricket for that world.
Each match lasts just 3 to 6 minutes — quick, intense and rewarding. It’s snackable entertainment with real IGaming logic behind it. Players can jump in, experience the thrill, and move on — or stay for hours of back-to-back action that never loses momentum.
- How exactly does the AI model work to make every match unpredictable and “alive”?Behind every match is a living algorithm. Our AI engine processes thousands of variables — team stats, player behavior, pitch and weather conditions, even dynamic momentum shifts. It learns from real cricket patterns but never repeats itself.
That’s what makes it unpredictable — no scripted loops, no recycled outcomes. Every delivery, every wicket, carries its own story. You can literally feel the rhythm of the game changing, just like in live sports. That’s where the emotion comes from — not from animation, but from intelligence.
- How customisable is the product for each Operator’s brand?
We built AI Cricket to be more than a plug-and-play product — it’s a canvas for each Operator’s brand. Our customisation layer lets partners design branded tournaments with their own visuals, logos, and atmosphere.
That means every sportsbook can offer something that feels exclusive — not “another virtual,” but their cricket universe. It’s a powerful way to build loyalty and keep players coming back, because the experience looks, sounds and plays like it truly belongs to that Operator.
- Does Betbazar plan to expand the AI-driven approach to other sports as well?
Absolutely — Cricket was just the opening chapter. The core AI engine we’ve built is flexible enough to adapt to any sport with a short, dynamic format. We’re already experimenting with new disciplines that share the same DNA: fast action, unpredictability, and constant engagement. Our goal is to create a full AI-driven sports universe.
- How do you see AI-powered Content evolving in the iGaming industry over the next 2-3 years?
AI-powered content transforms iGaming by making it faster to test ideas, launch products, and measure results. It turns IGaming into a form of entertainment — offering new, immersive experiences rather than just odds and outcomes. It’s a powerful way for Operators to experiment with different hypotheses, understand player behaviour, and adapt their sportsbook in real time. The line between sports, gaming, and entertainment is fading — and we want Betbazar to lead that evolution.
About Betbazar
Betbazar is a product-first iGaming technology company that empowers Operators with profitable solutions. From low-latency Live Data Feed and AI-driven products to a Turnkey Platform and Sportsbook Solutions, the company delivers performance, reliability and growth Operators need to stay ahead. Betbazar is a long-term technology partner, helping Operators integrate faster, operate smarter and scale stronger.
Website: https://betbazar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betbazar
- 
																Latest News3 months agoLight & Wonder to Participate in the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo 
- 
																Latest News3 months agoReferOn Shortlisted for Acquisition & Retention Partner of the Year at SBC Lisbon 2025 
- 
																Latest News3 months agoGavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion 
- 
																Latest News2 months agoDuels for Friends in Trophy Hunter. Invite your friends and create a shared space for fun and competition. 
- 
																Latest News2 months agoBC.GAME Launches “Nezha” Slot with Up to 46,656 Ways to Win and 10,000x Max Payout 
- 
																Latest News1 month agoAnnouncement: 25th September 2025 
- 
																Latest News2 months agoNODWIN Gaming Acquires Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Stake in Evo; Becomes Majority Holder 
- 
																Latest News2 months agoFlamez – A Fiery New Online Casino Contender from Ganadu 



 
									 
																	 
									 
																	 
									 
																	 
									 
																	 
									 
																	 
									 
																	 
    
You must be logged in to post a comment Login