Removing the Gambling Ban in Ukraine Takes Center Stage
In a significant shift for the Eastern European nation, gambling in Ukraine is now legal and regulated after an eight-year ban. The legalization, which includes casinos, sports betting, slot machines, and online gambling (iGaming), came into effect in August 2020 with the passing of bill 2285-D.
The Ukrainian government has since established a regulated market, complete with licensing and compliance requirements for operators. This move towards a more transparent and accountable regulatory system is aimed at ensuring safety and compliance within the industry.
A major milestone in the growth of the legal gambling market was achieved in July 2025, when Google officially approved advertisements from licensed Ukrainian gambling operators across its platforms. This approval signifies a strong market push and increased visibility for legal gambling businesses in Ukraine. Google requires advertisers to have both Ukrainian regulatory approval and pass its certification process to advertise gambling, ensuring compliance with local laws and responsible advertising rules.
While specific projections for Ukraine’s gambling revenues are not directly stated, it is expected that the legalization of comprehensive gambling markets could generate hundreds of millions to billions of US dollars annually, depending on market size and regulation. Given Ukraine’s population (~40 million) and the active legalization since 2020, combined with international advertising access as of 2025, annual revenues could be substantial, possibly in the range of several hundred million dollars or more.
However, it's important to note that exact figures require industry reports or government forecasts not included in the search results. For precise revenue projections, consulting Ukrainian government or gambling industry financial reports post-2025 would be recommended.
In 2018, the Ukrainian Minister of Finance pledged to legalize gambling in the country, with a deadline set. However, the earlier legislative proposal to decriminalize casinos, sports betting, and iGaming did not pass due to high tax rates and licensing fees opposed by operators. Despite this, a new proposal to legalize gambling has been presented to the Prime Minister of Ukraine.
The delays in removing the ban on the gambling market have resulted in a loss of US$370 million in taxes over two years. If the earlier regulations had been approved, annual revenues of US$1.5 billion could have been generated. Despite these challenges, the potential for substantial revenue generation from the legalization of gambling remains a significant incentive for the Ukrainian government to push for reform.
The Ukrainian government's decision to legalize gambling in 2020, including casinos, has opened up opportunities for financial growth in the casino-and-gambling sector. In 2025, Google approved advertisements from licensed Ukrainian gambling operators, which could lead to substantial annual revenues within this sector.
