The Ukrainian government is moving to liquidate the Gambling and Lotteries Regulatory Commission, known as CRAIL, amid concerns about its effectiveness. The proposal was shared by Daniil Getmantsev, the chair of the tax committee in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, via the Telegram channel. He stated that the government has suggested dissolving what he described as a struggling body and added that his committee supported bill 9256, urging that it be brought before the Verkhovna Rada for debate and voting.”
Getmantsev outlined what CRAIL should have accomplished during its three years of operation. He argued that the commission was meant to safeguard players’ rights, foster a responsible gambling culture, and regulate the access to gambling by ensuring appropriate oversight of who may participate. He asserted that CRAIL failed to fulfill these duties, which led to his harsh assessment of the agency as helpless and ineffective.
In a separate development, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed support in January for a proposal to restrict gambling for the military, signaling a broader regional trend toward tighter controls on gambling access in sensitive or high-risk groups.
The discussion in Ukraine aligns with ongoing debates about gambling regulation and consumer protection, with officials evaluating whether a centralized regulator can better achieve player protection and market integrity than the current setup. The discourse underscores a push toward stronger oversight mechanisms and more accountable governance in the sector.
Across the region, earlier statements from other neighbors have highlighted similar concerns about the social and economic implications of gambling, including measures aimed at limiting participation and tightening licensing controls. The current Ukrainian dialogue reflects a broader effort to balance regulation with public interest, ensuring transparency and safeguarding citizens from potential harms associated with gambling activities.