Military personnel will not be allowed to gamble: what the Ministry of Digital Transformation is proposing
24 March 01:34
Ukraine plans to introduce new restrictions on military personnel’s participation in gambling during martial law. A corresponding draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers has already been submitted for public discussion. This was reported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the state agency PlayCity, which regulates the gambling market, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Why do they want to restrict military personnel’s access to gambling?
The Ministry of Digital Transformation explains that the new rules aim to reduce the risks of gambling addiction among military personnel and protect their families from the potential financial and psychological consequences of compulsive gambling.
“We are continuing our systematic fight against gambling addiction. Our goal is to protect military personnel and their families from the risks and consequences of gambling. Together with the Ministry of Defense, we are developing a mechanism that will restrict military personnel’s participation in gambling during martial law,” the ministry stated.
How the new mechanism will work
According to the draft, before granting access to gambling, the system will automatically check users against special state registries.
The check will take place in two stages:
- verification in the registry of persons prohibited from participating in gambling
- verification in the registry of military personnel.
If a person is already on the list of restricted players, the system will automatically block access to the game.
How military personnel’s personal data will be protected
The Ministry of Digital Transformation emphasizes that gambling operators will not receive information about users’ military status.
“The gambling operator will not see the user’s military status. The system will only transmit information regarding access restrictions without disclosing personal data,” the ministry explained.
Who will oversee compliance with the rules
Implementation and oversight of the new mechanism are planned to be entrusted to the state agency PlayCity, which regulates Ukraine’s gambling market.
What other changes are being prepared in the gambling sector
Earlier, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, together with PlayCity, also announced comprehensive changes to legislation regarding the regulation of gambling and taxation in this sector.
In particular, the proposals include:
- amendments to the law on gambling
- amendments to the Tax Code
- tighter market oversight.
Additionally, in October 2025, the introduction of betting limits for players was announced for the first time, marking a new tool in the fight against gambling addiction in Ukraine.
