Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has put pen to paper on bill 2285D, as expected since last month’s triumphant voting in its favor at the Verkhovna Rada, the country’s Supreme Council. Land-based as well as online gambling are now officially legal in the country, while casinos' operation is allowed within hotel premises.
The formation of the new gambling law will put an end to an eleven-year ban on all forms of gambling that was imposed in the country (lotteries were excepted). SoP, the president’s party, has been making efforts to form a bill that would efficiently regulate all aspects of the gambling industry. Eventually, after a few necessary rewrites and amendments, it has come to its final form.
As it stands, it will provide a regulated framework for land-based and online sports betting, casinos, slot machines, online poker and lotteries. It also sets the minimum allowed gambling age at 21 and deems unlicensed gambling illegal. The bill will reportedly need more clarity on tax issues, yet these will be made clear in September when the Supreme Council will return from recess.