Ukraine Appoints Head of New Gambling Authority to Oversee Digital Reform

New Leadership for a Revamped Regulatory Body

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers officially appointed Hennadii Novikov as the director of PlayCity, the nation’s new state agency for gambling oversight. The Ministry of Digital Transformation, which announced the decision, described Novikov as an experienced legal expert with a background in public administration.

Before this role, Novikov served as deputy chief of staff at the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL). He was involved in initiatives to disrupt the operations of illegal online casinos—an area that remains a core priority under his new mandate.

A Digital-First Approach to Regulatio

PlayCity’s establishment comes amid growing calls for transparency and efficiency in Ukraine’s gambling sector. As head of the agency, Novikov is expected to lead a comprehensive reboot of gambling and lottery market regulation. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the agency’s top objectives include:

• Developing a fully digital licensing system to ensure transparency and equal conditions for all market participants

• Launching a nationwide online monitoring system to track tax revenues and verify compliance among licensees

• Introducing effective regulatory tools to curb the activities of unlicensed casinos

• Updating the registry of players and streamlining application procedures for Ukrainian users

• Removing gambling operators with ties to Russia from the domestic market.

According to the Ministry, better oversight could bring an additional ₴10 billion (around $250 million) in taxes each year. This move also supports Ukraine’s wider effort to strengthen its economy and break ties with Russian-affiliated businesses.