Ukraine Survey Finds 86% Prefer Licensed Casinos

A government-backed survey in Ukraine found that 86% of online casino users prefer licensed operators, while 78% said they have no intention of moving to unlicensed sites.

The second phase of the study was commissioned by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and conducted by the SOCIOINFORM Sociological Centre between May 19 and June 26, 2026. Researchers surveyed 2,676 online casino users through Computer-Assisted Web Interviews. The work received support from the Centre for Responsible Gaming and the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators and followed an earlier nationwide study by PlayCity, the country’s gambling regulator.

Licensed Gambling Remains The Preferred Option

Despite the strong preference for regulated operators, illegal gambling remains familiar to some participants. One in five respondents said they knew friends who used unlicensed websites.

Among those attracted to illegal platforms, 33% cited registration without identity checks. Anonymity accounted for 17%, while 16% pointed to fewer restrictions or limits.

The participants generally reflected middle-income and educated Ukrainians. Higher education accounted for 42% of respondents, while 38% had secondary specialised education. Monthly earnings most commonly fell between 11,000 and 30,000 hryvnias, reported by 31%, or between 31,000 and 50,000 hryvnias, reported by 25%.

Men represented 73% of respondents and women 27%. Gambling experience also varied by gender, with 20% of men reporting more than 10 years of experience compared with 5% of women.

Curiosity Leads Gambling Motivations

Curiosity and excitement ranked as the leading reasons for gambling, cited by 40% of participants. A further 21% said gambling provided a distraction from daily life, while 20% identified promotions as a motivation.

The desire to win money accounted for 17%, followed by social encouragement at 14%.

While 59% described their gambling as controlled and recreational, 35% said it sometimes became uncontrollable. Another 6% reported frequent loss of control. Nearly one-quarter said they occasionally chased losses or spent more than intended, while around 9% reported serious financial, family or other personal difficulties linked to gambling.

Those findings differ from PlayCity’s earlier nationwide research, where 70% of respondents identified monetary gain as their main motivation.

Awareness Of Safeguards Remains Uneven

The findings have contributed to Ukraine’s Strategy to Combat Gambling Addiction through 2035, which focuses on prevention, early risk detection, behavioural monitoring and support.

Awareness of available safeguards remains limited. Although 64% knew responsible-gambling tools existed, only about two-thirds knew about self-control features. Forty percent knew about time and spending limits, while 13% knew they could view gambling statistics.

Only around 11% knew the minimum legal gambling age, and 10% were aware of the national Register of Persons with Restricted Access to Gambling. Fewer than 10% knew about certain bonus restrictions or institutions offering addiction support.

Trust in regulation was also mixed. Slightly more than half, or 53%, considered the sector adequately regulated. Forty-four percent trusted the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity, while 22% said they were well informed about their roles.

PlayCity has issued 250 licences during its first year as regulator and has also established direct communication channels with Kick to help remove content promoting unlicensed gambling.

Source:

“Survey shows Ukraine’s channelisation at 86%, with vast majority having no interest in black market”, igamingbusiness.com, August 7, 2026