New rules for licensing lotteries in Ukraine: How the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity are deciding the fate of the market

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity are updating the rules for licensing the lottery market in Ukraine. This is the first comprehensive review of the rules governing its operation in the last 12 years.

The new rules provide for:

• Annual license fees;
• Transparent licensing through open competitions;
• An electronic accounting system that will allow the state to track sales and payouts in real time;
• Unique QR codes for each ticket and terminal to ensure protection against counterfeiting and confirmation of the legality of the equipment;
• A public register, fines, and license revocation for relevant violations;
• A ban on combining lotteries with online casinos or betting.

Further changes to the Law “On State Lotteries” are planned. This is necessary to end the monopoly, close regulatory gaps, and open the market to international companies and investments.