Ukraine Lottery Relaunch Sees Domestic Bidders Only
Ukraine has advanced its lottery relaunch after PlayCity closed the application period for state lottery licences on 29 December 2025. Three domestic operators LLC M.S.L., FDI Ukrainian National Lottery (UNL) and PJSC Patriot submitted bids, with no new entrants joining, reflecting a process focused on continuity amid wartime regulatory uncertainty.
Short-Term Licences Reflect Martial Law Constraints
PlayCity director Hennadiy Novikov explained that licences will be issued for the duration of martial law plus one year, capped at three years. The limited term is intended to give the Ministry of Digital Transformation and parliament time to redesign the market rules and consider potential international participation in the future.
Domestic-Focused Competition
The absence of foreign applicants aligns with current legislative realities. Novikov told Interfax-Ukraine that the tight timetable is a statutory requirement: submission of documents must occur within three months after licensing conditions are approved. He noted that attracting international companies would require an extended preparation period, ideally announced a year in advance.
Modernising Oversight and Closing Revenue Gaps
The tender also addresses a decade-long oversight and revenue gap. Operators had effectively run lotteries without paying licence fees since 2013–2014, when Ministry of Finance-issued licences expired. Novikov emphasised that the new process ensures a level playing field, while Deputy Minister Natalia Denikeieva highlighted the government’s goal: rewarding compliance, technological capability and product quality over legacy arrangements.
Strict Entry Requirements Limit Fast Entry
Tender rules impose stringent conditions for participation: at least three years of lottery experience, a .ua website, a minimum authorised capital of UAH 30 million and no direct or indirect ties to Russia. Novikov suggested that, ultimately, the market could open to a broader range of operators, beyond established state-affiliated companies, to foster competition and innovation.
A Regulatory Reset in Progress
Since February 2025, gambling policy has been under the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity became the central executive authority in April 2025, replacing KRAIL. The current lottery tender represents both a regulatory reset and a chance to formalise compliance and revenue collection for Ukraine’s lottery sector, while setting the stage for potential reforms to widen participation once wartime restrictions are lifted.
