Ukraine Gambling Survey Shows Strong Licensed Market Support

A new survey of online casino users in Ukraine found a strong preference for regulated gambling platforms, with 86% of respondents saying they favor licensed operators. The research also showed that 78% have no plans to switch to unlicensed gambling websites.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation commissioned the second phase of the research, which the SOCIOINFORM Sociological Centre carried out from May 19 through June 26, 2026. The study involved 2,676 online casino users who completed Computer-Assisted Web Interviews.

The Centre for Responsible Gaming and the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators supported the research. It followed an earlier nationwide survey conducted by PlayCity, Ukraine’s gambling regulator.

Licensed Operators Hold Strong Player Preference

Although licensed casinos attracted the clear majority of respondents, familiarity with illegal gambling remained present among some participants. Twenty percent said they knew friends who gambled through unlicensed websites.

Players who showed interest in illegal platforms gave several reasons for doing so. Registration without identity verification was the most frequently cited factor, accounting for 33% of responses among this group. Another 17% pointed to anonymity, while 16% identified fewer restrictions or limits.

The demographic findings showed that many participants had middle-range incomes and relatively high levels of education. Higher education was reported by 42% of respondents, while 38% had secondary specialised education.

Income data showed that 31% earned between 11,000 and 30,000 hryvnias per month. Another 25% reported monthly earnings ranging from 31,000 to 50,000 hryvnias.

Men made up 73% of the sample, compared with 27% for women. The survey also identified a difference in long-term gambling experience between genders. Twenty percent of male respondents said they had gambled for more than a decade, compared with 5% of female participants.

Curiosity Ranks Above Financial Motivation

Curiosity and excitement emerged as the most common reasons for gambling, with 40% of respondents selecting those motivations. Twenty-one percent said gambling helped distract them from everyday life, and 20% identified promotions as a factor.

Winning money motivated 17% of participants, while 14% cited encouragement from other people.

The findings differed from PlayCity’s earlier nationwide study, where 70% of participants named monetary gain as their main reason for gambling.

Most respondents in the newer survey described their activity as controlled. Fifty-nine percent said they regarded their gambling as recreational and under control. However, 35% reported that their gambling sometimes became uncontrollable, while another 6% said they frequently lost control.

Nearly one-quarter of those surveyed said they occasionally chased losses or spent more money than they had intended. Around 9% reported experiencing serious problems related to gambling, including financial, family or other personal difficulties.

Knowledge Of Player Protections Remains Limited

The research has contributed to Ukraine’s Strategy to Combat Gambling Addiction through 2035. The strategy addresses prevention, early identification of risk, behavioural monitoring and assistance for people affected by gambling-related problems.

The survey found substantial gaps in awareness of existing responsible-gambling protections. While 64% of participants knew that responsible-gambling tools were available, only around two-thirds were familiar with self-control functions.

Forty percent knew that players could set limits on gambling time and spending. Awareness fell considerably for other measures, with 13% knowing that gambling statistics could be viewed.

Knowledge of regulatory requirements and support mechanisms was even lower. Around 11% of respondents knew the minimum legal age for gambling, while 10% were aware of the national Register of Persons with Restricted Access to Gambling.

Fewer than 10% knew about certain restrictions applying to bonuses or about institutions that provide support for gambling addiction.

Perceptions of regulation also varied. Fifty-three percent considered Ukraine’s sector adequately regulated. Forty-four percent said they trusted the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity, while 22% considered themselves well informed about the functions of those institutions.

PlayCity has issued 250 licences during its first year as Ukraine’s gambling regulator. It has also created direct communication channels with Kick as part of efforts to remove content that promotes unlicensed gambling.

Source:

Ukraine Survey Finds 86% Prefer Licensed Casinos, LCB.org, August 9, 2026