Ukrainian authorities continue to actively fight against shadow gambling organizers. Illegal establishments carry a lot of negativity for every citizen of the state. This opinion is shared by Anton Kuchukhidze, head of the Ukrainian Gambling Council.

According to the expert, the new government headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a large-scale campaign to combat illegal gambling business for the sake of one thing - to improve the image of the Ukrainian state in the international arena and ensure the inflow of foreign capital into the state budget from legal operators.

“The shadow sector is a real threat to our society. It hinders the development of a full-fledged sphere of gambling services. I can confirm that since 2019, the number of illegal gambling establishments has noticeably decreased in Ukraine. You don't have to be a professional or an expert to see this. However, the black market continues to exist, this cannot be denied,” said Anton Kuchukhidze.

According to the functionary, now the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRAIL) is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies in order to jointly combat illegal gambling business.

“Of course, it is not yet possible to stop the activities of everyone, but the pressure on the shadow market is colossal. Today, such operators cannot safely function within the framework of local jurisdiction, since the authorities have undertaken to restore order in this industry,” the expert added.

Kuchukhidze is sure that there are two ways to solve the problem of illegal gambling business in Ukraine. The first is to establish an effective market monitoring system, which will be based on the honest work of law enforcement agencies and the police. The second is direct communication between legal operators and authorities. According to him, the former may have reliable information about the location of illegal gambling establishments, while the latter have all the necessary tools to combat such companies.

Recall, the new rules for the operation of the gambling business in Ukraine limit operator bonus campaigns.