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Ukraine: First Problems with New Gambling Law

Almost every country in Europe has legalized gambling for the first time and channeled it, so to speak. This is especially true for online casinos. These were banned in most countries and are therefore allowed for the first time. Such a statement also applies to Ukraine – there has only recently been a gambling law, which thus legalizes gambling. However, in this context, there are already the first problems.

Ukraine Acts Against Illegal Gambling Advertising

Almost simultaneously with the issuance of the first licenses, the Ukrainian Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries appeared on the scene. 

This authority is responsible for reviewing gambling operators. 

Thus, it did not take long before the first violations were also detected. 

However, these do not emanate from the gambling providers that received a license. 

Rather, the companies that offer their gambling illegally are again involved.

Although non-licensed companies are not allowed to offer gambling at all, they do advertise. 

Therefore, the supervisory authority demands that the advertising be removed immediately. 

With this, the authority fired a warning shot. 

Those who do not comply must expect severe penalties in the future. 

First and foremost, this is public advertising, which is prohibited under advertising laws. 

This law includes paragraph 22, which prohibits advertising in many media. 

Whether this paragraph applies only to non-licensed companies or also to the licensed ones is not clear from the public news.

So it happened that the Ukrainian authority basically issued a warning to all gambling companies. 

Everyone should deal with the advertising law and take appropriate measures to comply with the rules contained in it, it said.

Ukraine Calls for Safe Gambling Over Many Rules

Ukraine has not only set strict rules regarding gambling advertising. 

The rules have been expanded so that there is a general ban on bonuses for certain groups of customers. 

This means that an offer of bonuses is not excluded in principle. 

It is only prohibited to provide a bonus if a loss is expected. 

This means that only those players will not receive a bonus who have already suffered a loss. 

This is intended to increase player protection.

In addition, all gambling providers must guarantee the following: every player must have the chance to set a personal betting limit. 

Likewise, every customer must be given permission to block himself. 

These rules are also intended to increase player protection. 

To ensure this in practice, the employees of the gambling companies must be trained to a special degree. 

They must be able to recognize whether a player has a dangerous gambling pattern. 

Thanks to this training, it should be possible to recognize whether someone could become overindebted. 

If this is the case, the providers must intervene.

Another rule is intended to ensure the targeted player protection: no private individuals are allowed to obtain a license. 

Only legal entities based in Ukraine are allowed to obtain a license.

First Licenses Already Issued

Previously, there was no gambling ban in Ukraine. 

This was only pronounced in 2009. 

The reason for this were sad events. 

Since 2015, Ukraine tried to legalize gambling again. 

After long negotiations, a gambling law was created that is like those in Europe. 

Included in the law were online gambling, sports betting, arcades, and casinos in hotels.

One of the reasons for the new law was the change in the way the Internet is viewed. 

Ukraine has also recognized how popular online offers are. 

Of course, these offers also include online gambling. 

Therefore, the new law was approved by the parliament with most 72 percent.

Despite these strict rules, the first licenses were granted a few months ago. 

The first to rejoice was Spaceiks, the owner of Cosmolot. 

Whether there are other licensees in the meantime has not yet been published.

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