Ukraine Survey Finds 86% Prefer Licensed Casinos

A new survey of online casino users in Ukraine indicates that the majority continue to use regulated gambling platforms. According to the study, 86% of respondents said they prefer licensed operators, while 78% said they have no intention of switching to illegal gambling websites.

The findings are part of the second phase of a nationwide study examining gambling’s impact on Ukrainian society. The research was commissioned by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. While the first phase focused on public attitudes toward gambling, the latest stage examined the experiences and behavior of people who actively play at online casinos.

The survey was conducted by the SOCIOINFORM Sociological Center between May 19 and June 26, 2026. A total of 2,676 people participated through an online CAWI survey.

Curiosity and Entertainment Among Main Motivations

The research found that a significant portion of Ukrainian players had already been gambling before the country introduced regulation. More than 10 years of gambling experience was reported by 20% of male respondents and 5% of female respondents.

Players also gave different explanations for starting to gamble than those commonly associated with the activity by the wider population. Rather than primarily seeking financial gains, many active players identified curiosity and entertainment as their main motivations.

Approximately 40% said they began gambling because they wanted to try it or were interested in the activity. Other reasons included taking a break from everyday life, promotional offers, the opportunity to make money and encouragement from friends.

The results show a difference between how active gamblers describe their motivations and how gambling is perceived by people who do not participate.

Licensed Operators Remain the Preferred Choice

Regulated gambling platforms received the strongest preference among survey participants. More than half of respondents considered government oversight one of the key advantages of using the legal market.

Players also highlighted reduced fraud risks, guarantees of fair play, dependable payouts and safer payment methods as benefits of licensed operators.

Unlicensed gambling platforms continue to attract some users, although they represent a smaller share of the market. Respondents who preferred illegal sites most commonly pointed to simpler registration without identity verification, anonymity and fewer restrictions or limits.

One in five participants said they personally knew people who used illegal gambling websites.

The findings arrive as Ukraine continues developing its gambling supervision framework, including initiatives focused on reducing gambling-related harm and strengthening the monitoring of player activity.

Responsible Gambling Knowledge Remains Mixed

Most participants described their gambling behavior as controlled. Around 59% said they regarded gambling primarily as entertainment, while 35% acknowledged that it could sometimes become difficult to control. A further 6% said they experienced this frequently.

At the same time, the survey identified several potentially risky behaviors. Almost one-quarter of respondents said they had continued gambling in an attempt to recover previous losses. A similar proportion reported spending more money than they had originally planned.

For 9% of those surveyed, gambling had already resulted in serious financial, family or other personal problems.

Knowledge of responsible gambling tools appears to be increasing, although awareness is still incomplete. Around 64% of respondents said they were aware that such tools were available. Self-control and self-exclusion were the measures most commonly recognized.

Awareness was lower for tools involving spending and time limits, access to personal gambling data, age restrictions, exclusion registers and organizations providing support for gambling-related problems.

Survey Profiles Ukraine’s Online Casino Users

The study also provided demographic information about the country’s online casino players.

Men accounted for 73% of respondents, compared with 27% women. Most participants reported either higher education or specialized secondary education.

The largest income groups consisted of respondents earning between 11,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias per month and those earning between 31,000 and 50,000 hryvnias.

The findings indicate that online casino users come from a range of social and economic backgrounds rather than representing one specific group.

Support for Regulation, Limited Awareness of Authorities

More than half of the surveyed players said they believe the state currently provides an adequate level of gambling regulation. Approximately 44% said they trusted the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity, the government body overseeing gambling.

However, knowledge of the regulators and their responsibilities remains limited. Only 22% of respondents said they clearly understood the roles of the ministry and PlayCity, while another 30% said they had some awareness of their activities.

The research is expected to support the development of future gambling policies, including Ukraine’s long-term strategy for preventing gambling addiction through 2035.

For regulators, the findings provide additional insight into the behavior of legal online casino users, their reasons for selecting particular platforms and areas where further consumer protection measures may be required.