Ukraine has been experiencing significant problems with gambling that have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion and the continued military struggles. In an attempt to minimize the threat posed by gambling harm, the Ukrainian government has greenlit a new three-year plan.
The Government Seeks to Curb the Country’s Addiction Rates
Ukraine’s government has approved a three-year plan to minimize gambling addiction in the country amid concerns about this growing issue. The so-called Order 855 was officially approved earlier this week and will require multiple public agencies to join forces in tackling the problem.
The initiative will run from 2027 to 2029 and will see a total of 40 public agencies work together on minimizing gambling addiction. The government hopes that this program will contribute to its broader goal of reducing the problem gambling rates in the country by 2035.
The new three-year program’s approval comes in the wake of a recent study that found that three in four Ukrainians are concerned about the gambling industry’s impact on public health.
The new program is notably a new and centralized approach that will see participation from organizations within the health, education, social services, security, and defense sectors. PlayCity, which regulates gambling in Ukraine, and the Ministry of Transformation will also play important roles.
The Program Will Focus on Minimizing Harm and Preventing Illegal Gambling
The Ukrainian government’s new anti-gambling harm program will focus on several key objectives. These include promoting healthy habits, encouraging responsible gambling, providing social support for harmed individuals, and creating a modern monitoring system. Per the three-year program, the government will also undertake a more intense crackdown on illegal gambling.
In order to achieve its goals, the government plans to run a nationwide problem gambling awareness campaign and educate students on the pitfalls of excessive gambling. Officials are also planning regular screening by health experts in order to better identify those experiencing gambling problems and provide treatment and social services to those in need.
Since problem gambling is especially common among military personnel in Ukraine, officials are also planning special rehabilitation services tailored to the needs of service members and veterans. Harm among young people and other vulnerable groups will also be addressed.
In any case, tackling the black market would be of crucial importance to achieving the government’s safer gambling targets, since unlicensed platforms are the usual contributor to harm. PlayCity previously warned that there are thousands of unlicensed platforms taking money from Ukrainian players and that up to half of all bets are being placed with illegal companies. While a later study by the Ministry of Transformation concluded that PlayCity’s grim estimations might be overstating the number of players who prefer illegal gambling platforms, it acknowledged that many of those who do play with black market operators do so to avoid ID checks or safer gambling limits.