Ukraine gaming stakeholders offer government expert advice

Ukraine’s government has been offered some expert advice in how to go about restarting stalled plans to legalize gambling.

On Wednesday, representatives of the recently formed Ukrainian Gaming Industry Association (UAII) held a press conference in Kiev to urge the government to make gambling legalization a priority. Ukraine banned all forms of gambling except lotteries in 2009 following a fatal fire in a small slot parlor.

In late 2015, Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance floated draft legislation that would have permitted land-based casinos, sports betting and online gambling. But hefty license fees and a proposed 20% tax on betting revenue left most stakeholders unenthused about the prospects of the bill’s passage and little has been heard about it since.

Speaking on Wednesday, UAII president Irini Sergienko said Ukraine’s gaming market “should be resolved taking into account international standards and practices.” Only then could the government achieve its aims of “significant tax revenues, jobs, elimination of corruption and, last but not least – the termination of cash outflows from the country.”