4H AGENCY
This market overview was prepared by Dmitry Hotsyn, Head of CIS Desk and Senior Consultant at 4H Agency.
With a wealth of experience under his belt, Dmitry provides expert guidance on international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational structuring for gambling enterprises. Before joining 4H Agency, he served as a co-leader of the gambling practice at Ukraine's largest law firm and worked in IT- focused investment fund, where he assisted in investment and operational support.
If you are considering venturing into the markets of CIS countries or seeking expert advice on navigating the complexities of the gambling industry, Dmitry Hotsyn is the go- to person. Take action now and reach out to Dmitry to explore how 4H Agency can support your endeavours in the vibrant and evolving landscape of the CIS region.
4H Agency is a global gambling advisory. We provide expert guidance to B2C operators and B2B providers, spanning market insights, payments, product localisation, regulations, licensing, public affairs, and more.
dmitry.h@4h.agency
https://t.me/dh_tlgm https://4h.agency/
u Land-based casino license; u Slot machines hall license;
u
Lottery license (excluded from the gambling regulations; under monopoly);
u B2B license; and u
Additional licenses for gambling equipment (slot machines, gambling tables, sports betting shops)*.
*Te legal framework for regulating the offline sector requires operating licenses (main license for the activity, e.g., casino or slot machines hall) and equipment licenses (additional licenses for relevant equipment) that can only be acquired by holders of operating licenses.
TAXES AND FEES 1. Tax type: Gambling tax
Taxable base: GGR (Gross Gambling Revenue)
Tax rates: u
Online casino – 18%; u Online poker – 18%;
u Online sports betting – 18%;
u Land-based casino – 18%; u Slot machine hall – 10%;
u Land-based sports betting – 18%; u B2B – n/a.
2. Tax type: Winning tax
Taxable base: Payment from the operator to the player
Tax rates: All winnings are taxed at a rate of 19.5% (comprising 18% is an income tax and 1.5% military tax).
REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
Te Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries. Website:
https://gc.gov.ua/
NUMBER OF ISSUED LICENSES u
Online casinos: 27; u Online poker: 3;
u Online sports betting: 6; u Land-based casinos: 10;
u Slot machines halls: 23; u Casino tables: 10;
u Sports betting shops: 1; u B2B suppliers: 35.
COST & TERM OF THE LICENSE
All gambling licenses in Ukraine are issued for 5 years, except for “additional” licenses which are issued for the term of the main land-based license.
Online casinos annual license fee: $US 1,2m till December 31, 2024;
Online poker annual license fee: $US 970,000 till December 31, 2024;
Online sports betting annual license fee: $US 5,8m;
Land-based casinos annual license fee:
- in Kyiv ~$US 11,6m till December 31, 2024, and
- in other cities ~$US 5,8m till December 31, 2024;
Slot machines hall annual license fee: ~$US 1,4m till December 31, 2024;
B2B gambling providers annual license fee: ~$US 58,400.
Additional licenses annual license fee:
- for roulette table $US 34,400 till December 31, 2024,
- for other casino table $US 17,500 till December 31, 2024, and
- for slot machine $US 1,100; - for sports betting shop: $US 5,800. ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS
In Ukraine, after April of 2024 almost all gambling advertisement was banned. Tere is no offline advertisement in the country and a lot of restrictions to the online one.
Tis was due to the implementation of a new amendments to the current gambling legislation, which will overhaul gambling industry as it is. After finalisation of such amendments and implementation of a new law, gambling advertising will be allowed again but regulated more strictly than before.
LOCAL MARKET SPECIFICS
Current Ukrainian regulatory shifts align with broader reforms initiated earlier in 2024, following a public scandal involving gambling losses among military personnel. Te incident led to immediate government actions, including restricting military participation, banning gambling advertising, and cracking down on unlicensed operators by blocking over 370 illegal websites. Te legislative response initially focused on tax reforms but expanded into a comprehensive overhaul, with the first draft of the new gambling law passed in May 2024.
Now, there are some limitations for the market entry important for the interested operators to know. For example, gambling establishments cannot be located in government premises, within 500 metres of educational institutions, inside religious buildings or premises owned by religious organisations, and etc.
Tough market provides for some benefits also. Firstly, it is sports betting license - while usually online licenses can be tied with land-based one, in Ukraine the online sports betting license considered as main. Terefore, by obtaining online sports betting license, operator will be able to apply for land- based one.
Secondly, the B2B gambling provider sector in Ukraine remains underdeveloped. A significant number of B2B providers operate without licenses, since under existing framework only providers with offices in Ukraine are required to obtain a local license, while foreign unlicensed operators can work without restriction.
Te upcoming legislation is expected to introduce stricter penalties, mandatory registration for B2B operators within Ukraine, enhanced monitoring mechanisms for advertising, and new taxation rules, including an increase in the military fee tax from 1.5% to 5%. Tese changes are designed to foster a safer and more transparent market while addressing loopholes that have allowed unlicensed operators to flourish.
Overall, the main feature of the Ukrainian market is that it is young, opened only in 2020 - and all changes are taking place in real time. Moreover, the military situation in the country also affects the state of the market.
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