July 16 marked a significant day for the Ukrainian gambling market: Gennady Novikov, head of the state agency PlayCity, announced his resignation. The decision was made personally and submitted as a voluntary resignation.

"We Laid the Right Foundation"

In his statement published on Facebook, Novikov emphasized that he is leaving with a sense of duty fulfilled. According to him, the PlayCity team has managed to create a solid foundation for the further development of the industry.

"I am leaving my position with the feeling that we have laid the right foundation. And I am also making this decision based on my conscience — in the way I believe is right for the institution, the team, and the state," the official wrote.

Novikov is convinced that PlayCity has already become a full-fledged regulator that is genuinely changing the industry in the interests of the state, society, and fair play principles. He also noted that during the agency's operation, significantly more was accomplished than in all previous years of the industry's existence.

Key Achievements Over the Year

PlayCity launched in June 2025. In this short period, the agency managed to implement a number of important initiatives:

  • Implementation of transparent control mechanisms for gambling operators;
  • Strengthening consumer rights protection;
  • Creation of a licensing system based on competitive principles;
  • Development of a regulatory framework compliant with international standards.

Novikov paid special attention to the issue of banning gambling for military personnel. In June 2026, the Ministry of Digital Transformation considered this initiative, and the head of PlayCity himself explained in detail how the corresponding mechanism would work.

Competitive Principle for Appointing Leadership

Another important step was the proposal by the Ministry of Digital Transformation to introduce a competitive principle for appointing the head of PlayCity. This initiative was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers in June 2025 and aimed at increasing the transparency and efficiency of the agency's management.

Gennady Novikov's departure marks a new stage in the history of gambling regulation in Ukraine. Now we just have to wait to see who will take his place and what new challenges the industry will face in the near future.