The Rada expects the government to decide on the dismissal of the acting Minister of Digital Transformation and head of PlayCity, says a lawmaker
17 April 11:27
Danylo Getmantsev, chairman of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax, and customs policy, stated that the delay in launching the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS) appears to be a case of deliberate sabotage rather than administrative inefficiency. He made these remarks in an interview with Delo.ua, as reported by
According to him, criminal proceedings have already been initiated regarding the possible disruption of the system’s implementation by former Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Acting Minister Oleksandr Bornyakov, and their team.
“This is not unprofessionalism or clumsiness—it is deliberate sabotage of the law. Such actions are aimed at preventing gambling establishments from paying the required funds to the budget,” Getmantsev emphasized.
He also expressed his conviction that law enforcement agencies must hold those responsible to account, and the relevant officials should be dismissed immediately.
Separately, Getmantsev drew attention to personnel issues: the relevant parliamentary committee has already recognized the unsuitability of Oleksandr Bornyakov and the head of the state agency “PlayCity,” Hennadiy Novikov, for their positions .
“The Cabinet of Ministers must adopt the relevant decisions. We expect them in the near future. The government has sufficient resources to prevent the embezzlement of state funds during the war,” he noted.
Getmantsev emphasized that over time, his assessment of the situation has become harsher, as evidence has accumulated indicating not inaction but a deliberate obstruction of the process.
“If these are deliberate actions, then there must be a motive. And it is unlikely that it is related to a ‘love of art,’” he added.
He also criticized the budget policy regarding the DSOM: the 2026 state budget does not allocate funds for the system’s development, yet it includes funding for its maintenance, despite the fact that it has not yet been put into operation.
“This looks like audacity. We’re not talking about mistakes, but about deliberate actions aimed at causing harm to the state,” Getmantsev concluded.
Why the delay in launching the DSOM has become a problem
The absence of a fully-fledged online monitoring system means that the state lacks a sufficient digital tool for continuous real-time oversight of the gambling market. The Accounting Chamber’s report emphasizes that the introduction of the DSOM and the digitization of the market were intended to improve the transparency and accountability of the gambling industry and ensure the full collection of taxes, fees, and other payments into the budget.
In fact, the delay in launching this system means that one of the main control mechanisms, which the state considered fundamental to the new market regulation, is still not fully operational. This was precisely one of the main arguments behind the parliamentary committee’s strong reaction.
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Why the complaints are directed at the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity
Following the entry into force of Law No. 4116 on April 1, 2025, the CRAIL was dissolved, and the PlayCity agency was established in its place. Among its tasks, the audit explicitly mentions the digitization of the licensing process, the launch of the DSOM, the implementation of tools to regulate the gambling market, and the fight against illegal casinos. The agency operates under the coordination of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, so the criticism applies to both the ministry’s leadership and the new regulator.
That is why the Parliamentary Committee, in its decision, held both the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity responsible for the delayed launch of the system.
As reported by
