The majority of Ukrainians are in favour of stricter gambling regulations, however only a small proportion engage with the sector.
This was revealed in a study commissioned by local regulator PlayCity, with results based on a total of 3,164 respondents. While the exact study and its methodology are not publicly available for viewing, the gambling authority further highlighted that the survey pool is divided by age, gender, residence, and active military personnel.
Looking at the numbers, 84% of all respondents did not classify themselves as gamblers, with one in three highlighting that they do not know anyone in their circle who gambles. Only 5% of surveyed said they’ve gambled in the last 12 months, while just 2% did so in the last 30 days.
The study further highlighted that there’s no evidence of internally displayed people – due to the ongoing war with Russia – exhibiting higher gambling participation rates against the national average.
Still, despite the low engagement with the sector reported by the regulator, Ukrainians still seem to have strong opinions about the industry.
Around 70% of the total survey pool said that the biggest incentive for playing is the desire to win money. The second most quoted factor was excitement (41%). Around 17% believe that advertising or the need for a distraction drives people towards gambling.
What’s more, 74% of respondents are in favour of more player protection measures, with 67% hoping for more regulation overall.
Respondents expect specific regulatory actions, such as stronger oversight of iGaming laws (29%), more being done about the illegal market (27%), tougher age restrictions (19%), and the introduction of more responsible gambling educational campaigns (15%).
The study was done in collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, and represents the first phase of a larger report assessing the impact of gambling in society, which is expected to come out in full in August.
