iGN x 4H: Overview of Ukraine’s New iGaming License
The iGN editorial team, together with experts from 4H Agency, prepared an analysis of Ukraine’s new licensing framework regulating all segments of gambling — both online and offline, as well as the B2B sector. As of 2025, the regulator overseeing this market is the state agency PlayCity.
License Types and Fees
- Online casino (5 years) — approx. $1.26M
- Online sportsbook (5 years) — approx. $5.8M
- Online poker (5 years) — approx. $1M
- Land-based casino (5 years) — from approx. $5.8M to $11.6M depending on location
- Betting pool (race tracks, 5 years) — approx. $200
- B2B license (5 years) — approx. $58.3K
Additional Licenses
- Betting shop — approx. $5.83K per shop
- Roulette table — approx. $34K per table
- Other gaming table — approx. $17.4K per table
- Slot machine — approx. $1.1K per machine
Financial Terms
- Main licenses are paid according to PlayCity’s current terms (previously — annually; during the transition period, fees are tripled until the launch of the online monitoring system)
- Additional licenses are paid annually
- Financial guarantee: approx. $1.4M (as a deposit or bank guarantee for payouts)
- Minimum authorized capital of the company — approx. $730K
Taxes and Validity
- License validity period: 5 years
- 18% GGR tax
- 19.5% player winnings tax
- 18% corporate income tax
Applicant Requirements
- Applicant must be a legal entity registered in Ukraine
- Owners and directors must have a clean reputation; Russian citizens, sanctioned individuals, or those linked to terrorism are prohibited
- Founders cannot be banks, financial institutions, or non-profit organizations
- Beneficiaries/founders must not be linked to previously revoked licenses
- Full disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners (passport details, tax ID, ownership share)
- Land-based casinos allowed only in designated gambling zones — 4-5* hotels and resort complexes
Market Highlights
- In 2025, automation of licensing and a self-exclusion system were launched
- The B2B sector is open to international providers
- Enforcement against illegal operators has intensified: as of August, over 1,300 websites and 7 Instagram accounts were blocked; fines of approx. $80K were issued (8 operators); over 7 licenses were revoked
- Fiscal burden remains high, but budget revenues have increased by 20%
- The market is highly competitive: established leaders hold the majority share, while many new entrants operate at a loss
- Marketing trends show stronger multichannel strategies and growing use of AI to automate traffic and content
According to 4H, the Ukrainian license remains expensive and high-risk but grants full access to the local market, making it suitable for large operators with stable financial models.
High costs and strict requirements make Ukraine a challenging yet promising market.