New state protection measures are coming into force in Ukraine, aimed at reducing the risks of gambling addiction among military personnel. The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a corresponding resolution introducing an automatic ban on military participation in gambling. This decision is intended to protect the country's defenders from the potential harm that gambling addiction could cause under conditions of high stress.
Technology Guarding Security
The mechanism for implementing the ban will operate at the level of digital identification. As reported by the head of the State Agency for the Control of Gambling and Lottery Business, Hennadii Novikov, user verification will become automatic. Upon attempting to enter the gaming space or authorize on a legal operator's website, the system will initiate a request to two key databases:
- Registry of persons with restricted access to gambling.
- Registry of military personnel, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Defense.
In the event of a data match with any of these databases, access to the game will be instantly blocked. At the same time, the system developers have provided for personal data protection: casino organizers will not see the specific reason that became the basis for denying access.
Infrastructure and Technical Partners
The technical implementation of the project will be ensured by the company PlayCity in conjunction with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The exchange of critically important data will take place through the protected state system "Trembita," which guarantees information security.
Fighting the Shadow Sector
Restricting access for military personnel is only part of a large-scale strategy to clean up the market. In parallel, the state is strengthening measures to combat illegal business. Key agencies have been involved in blocking black internet casinos and gaming halls: the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (Derzhspetssvyaz), and law enforcement agencies.
The problem of the shadow sector in the country remains acute. According to research by the international company KANTAR, due to the lack of strict control, the illegal gambling market has grown to 56.7% of the entire sector, demonstrating rapid expansion.
Industry Debates
The introduction of restrictions has sparked active debates in the professional community. The Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators (AUOGB) warned of possible risks. Industry experts fear that a total ban for military personnel could provoke a mass migration of players to illegal resources. Most of these platforms are controlled from the Russian Federation, creating serious threats to cybersecurity and potential data leaks of defenders.
Sociological Context
The authorities' decision is supported by a scientific approach. Earlier, a large-scale national sociological study was launched in Ukraine, initiated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and state structures. Its goal is to study the impact of gambling on society, with special attention to vulnerable categories of the population: military personnel, youth, and internally displaced persons.