Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
Regulation of casinos in Ukraine and Eastern Europe
Key takeaways in one look
Ukraine: "regulatory restart" was completed in 2025 - KRAIL was liquidated, a new PlayCity agency was created under the auspices of the Ministry of Digital Science; basic law - No. 768-IX (2020). Supervision and sanctions have been strengthened, and lotteries are being restarted.
The range of models in the region: from state monopolies/quasi-monopolies (Poland online casino, Moldova lottery/online) to open licensed markets (Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia) and strict, but legal regimes (Belarus).
Trends-2024/25: tightening AML and advertising control (Bulgaria, Romania), rising taxes/fees (Latvia), "consolidation packages" and fiscal adjustments (Czech Republic).
Ukraine: new supervision and market restart
Legal framework. The market is re-legalized by law No. 768-IX of 14. 07. 2020: online casinos, online bookmaking, poker, slot halls, land casinos are allowed; licensing and technical certification are provided.
Regulatory reform 2024-2025.
In December 2024, the Rada adopted bill No. 9256-d on strengthening control (liquidation of KRAIL), on January 4, 2025, the law was signed; in March 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers created the state agency PlayCity as a new supervisory body (under the Ministry of Digital Science). Goals: licensing transparency, tightening the fight against the "gray" online segment and restarting lotteries.
Compliance Focus-2025.
strengthening sanctions for advertising illegal immigrants and cooperation with payment providers to block gray schemes;
priority of RG tools, verification and responsible marketing (in line with the pan-European agenda).
Eastern Europe: who and how regulates (snapshot 2025)
Poland
Model: highly regulated market; online casinos - the state monopoly Totalizator Sportowy ("Total Casino"); rates - under license. Emphasis on combating illegal payments.
Trends-2025: coordination with banks and the EU to overlap payment channels with "gray" sites; the law for 2022-25 has hardly changed, but the practice of supervision is being tightened.
Romania
Regulator: ONJN. Legal framework: GEO 77/2009; clear two-level license system (operator/provider).
New: in 2024-2025, the rules for advertising and influence of influencers/social networks were strengthened to protect minors; strict control of RG and AML remains.
Bulgaria
Regulator: since 2020, functions have been transferred to the National Revenue Agency (NRA); a separate AML division has been created, and supervision has been strengthened.
Czech Republic
Law: Act No. 186/2016; with 1. 01. 2024 entered into force the most ambitious since the adoption of the amendment ("Consolidation Package," Act 349/2023) - adjustments to taxes and rules in force in 2024-2025.
Slovakia
Regulator: URHH, Law No. 30/2019. The online market is open to international operators (with local representation/conditions), license terms are up to 10 years, financial guarantees are required.
Hungary
Reform: online bookmaking has been opened since 2023 (after the 2022 amendments), but online casinos remain tied to land concessions/monopolies; strong extraterritorial jurisdiction and lockdowns.
Latvia
Regulator: IAUI; separate licenses for offline and online; in 2025, tax/fee increases and structural changes were announced.
Lithuania
Regulator: Gaming Control Authority; "white lists" of allowed operators, active blocking of "black." In 2025, law enforcement officers pointed to the vulnerabilities of supervision - additional adjustment of procedures is expected.
Estonia
Regulator: Tax and Customs Board (EMTA); two-stage system: first activity license, then operating permit; the practice of issuing in 2025 has become noticeably stricter.
Moldova
Model: state monopoly through Loteria Națională a Moldovei - especially in online segments; land-based casinos have separate licensing. In 2024, a partial easing of the rules for advertising "low-risk" games was discussed.
Belarus
Status: all forms of gambling are legal, but tightly regulated; online legalized in 2019 (Decree No. 305), high access threshold and self-exclusion measures.
Advertising, player protection, AML/KYC: where the bar is higher
Advertising and marketing. Romania and Latvia are at the forefront of tightening (restrictions on sites/formats, an increase in the tax burden). Poland and Lithuania severely suppress the promotion of illegal immigrants and gray payments.
AML/KYC. Bulgaria strengthened AML oversight through the NRA; After the reform, Ukraine is shifting to risk-oriented monitoring and blocking of gray payment flows.
Responsible play. All listed jurisdictions require RG tools: limits, self-exclusion, warnings; Belarus stands out with a strict procedure of irreversible self-exclusion for 6-36 months.
Taxes and Fees: Trends
The growth of the fiscal burden is pointwise (Czech Republic - updating the tax block, Latvia - increasing rates and fees by type of games). Poland keeps the status quo, but strengthens the collection and overlapping of "gray" payments.
What it means for operators and partners
1. Ukraine: prepare for re-licensing and IV/IT audits under the new regulator, clean up provider/payment chains and advertising (especially influencers/streams).
2. Open markets (Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Baltic States, Estonia): local license and technical integration - must-have; check the latest advertising, RG and reporting requirements.
3. Monopolies/quasi-monopolies (Poland, Moldova, part of Hungary): we build a strategy around partnerships/concessions and B2B roles (content, PSP, KYC, anti-fraud).
Due diligence checklist before entering the market
Availability of a local license (or a valid B2B model/concession).
Compliance with AML/KYC and software certification requirements.
Advertising/affiliate policies in national law (restrictions on outdoor, social networks, influencers).
Taxes and fees by game type; mandatory RG funds or earmarks (if any).
Technology: hosting/mirrors/block lists, reporting, logs, integration with state registers/white-/black-lists.
Disclaimer
The material reflects the state as of October 24, 2025 and covers key norms and publicly confirmed changes. Local legal review and relevant bylaws will be required to calculate fees/taxes and final licensing structure in a particular jurisdiction.