by The legalization of gambling establishments in the country is progressing at a decent pace. Since the beginning of 2021, the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) has already managed to issue several permits to some operators.
After the adoption of the relevant law and its signing by the president, online casinos and land-based gaming clubs can operate completely legally and freely in the country, without experiencing additional problems.
Of course, the venues have to pay a significant amount of money to obtain a license. In addition, there are a number of important restrictions. For example, land-based casinos must be located exclusively on the premises of three to five-star hotels. In addition, until a full-fledged online monitoring system is launched, all gaming clubs and casinos are required to pay the state triple the cost of the license.
It must be said that there are still some issues with Ukrainian legislation and some outdated regulations that need to be corrected. All equipment must undergo mandatory certification.
Which companies have already managed to obtain the necessary permits for gambling activities?
Today, licenses are held by:
- LLC “Spaceiks”
- LLC “Gamedev”
- LLC “Parimatch”
- LLC “First Element”
Recently added to this list are:
- LLC “Favbet Bookmaker”
- LLC “Conqueror”
- LLC “Ukr Game Technology”
- LLC “Slots.UA”
It should also be mentioned: LLC “Joker.UA” and LLC “Alphagame”.
KRAIL also issues licenses for the opening of slot machine halls in specific hotels in different cities of Ukraine. In fact, a permit document for five years currently costs 45 million hryvnias. But don’t forget about the licensing fee for each slot at 36 thousand hryvnias!
The first licenses for land-based casinos were obtained by companies that are part of First Casino first.ua, a popular online casino with gambling entertainment on the Internet. Subsequently, the documents were obtained by the owners of the Billionaire brand.
The companies had to pay 36 million hryvnias for a year of operation. An additional fee of 1 million hryvnias is charged for each individual gaming table with a roulette. Without the roulette, the fee is half.
The Current Situation with the Legalization of Casinos in Ukraine
According to one of the owners of a well-known casino in Ukraine, while everyone was waiting for the final adoption of the law on the legalization of the gambling business in the country, they were already starting to sign rental agreements, make renovations, select appropriate staff, and install some equipment.
An important step for all venues remains the implementation of payment systems for fast financial transactions. Additionally, they need to show the bank all sources of income and specify subsidiary companies.
There are many problems with carrying out bureaucratic procedures and arranging a complex of necessary documents.
Some casinos admit that they initially planned to launch at the end of 2020. However, due to delays in the adoption of the law, plans had to be postponed to a later date. The coronavirus also made its own adjustments. Due to the lockdown, additional problems arose, and venues began to bear additional expenses.
Concerns arise about the certification of equipment installed in casinos and other gambling establishments. There is still no unified regulation or clearly defined procedure. The authority responsible for certification is not specified.
Legal venues intend to use products and slot machines from leading manufacturers with world-renowned names.
Personnel Selection Issues
All casinos need professional and highly qualified staff. Dealers, cashiers, and other personnel must undergo appropriate training. Special programs are in place, and scholarships are awarded.
A lot of people will be needed because companies plan to open land-based “points” in many major cities of Ukraine. At the same time, they need to comply with numerous requirements for the placement of establishments and open them in hotels. In gaming clubs, an appropriate atmosphere must be created, good service must be implemented, and certified equipment must be installed. Only in this way can clients be retained.
