meta_id 2950137

On March 9, 2026, Ukraine's State Agency for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (PlayCity) announced that three lottery operators have paid licence fees totalling over ₴72 million to the state budget. The three operators—МСЛ, Патріот, and Українська національна лотерея—were selected as competition winners and each paid ₴24.2 million for their licences. This marks the first lottery operator licensing activity in Ukraine in 12 years. The sector had operated without effective state regulation or licences for over a decade. The new licensing framework, adopted by the government in 2025, establishes regulatory conditions for lottery operators. New licensing requirements include mandatory electronic reporting to PlayCity, real-time monitoring of sales volumes and payouts, and unique QR codes for each lottery ticket and terminal. These measures enable continuous state oversight and reduce manipulation risks. The licences are issued for the duration of martial law plus one year following its conclusion, with a minimum three-year term rather than the ten years provided under existing legislation. This transitional approach allows flexibility pending broader legislative reforms. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is preparing comprehensive amendments to lottery legislation, including replacing the competitive licensing process with electronic auctions, eliminating references to "state monopoly," and clarifying distinctions between lotteries and gambling activities. Proposed changes also include prohibiting "toto" lotteries and gaming equipment in lottery operations. For citizens, the reforms provide transparency regarding point-of-sale legitimacy, lottery procedures, and prize guarantees. For the state, the changes restore regulatory control over the sector and generate projected licensing revenue.