Gaming Legislation Report: South East Europe. By: Marko Tomic, Partner, Law Firm Anđelović, Siketić & Tomić d.o.o. Zagreb
1. Ukraine
In the course of 2019 Ukrainian government made concrete steps towards the lifting of an existinggambling ban that was established in 2009 and which basically “outlawed” any kind of gambling activity in the territory of Ukraine (both land based and online).
Such ban opened door for illegal operators in one of the largest European markets (total population of approx. 43 million out of which 35 million aged over 18). On 16 January 2020, first reading of a draft Act on the Regulation of the Gambling Industry (“Act”) was adopted by the Ukrainian parliament with the intention to adopt the final version of the Act in the course of first half on 2020. Bearing in mind the global pandemic of COVID-19 as well as the ongoing political changes
in Ukraine, adoption of the Act was postponed and the second reading of the draft Act has been scheduled for 18 June 2020. In respect of the draft Act itself, the same regulates land based as well as online gambling activities from lotteries and casinos to poker and sports betting. Notwithstanding the above, it is to be expected that significant changes to the initially approved draft occurred, bearing in mind that more than 1500 amendments to the same were proposed
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