Ukraine plans to introduce restrictions on military personnel’s access to gambling through state registers and an automated verification system. If the system determines that a person falls under the restriction, their participation in the game will be automatically blocked without additional actions. This was stated in a comment to Channel 24 by Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Nataliia Denikeieva.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
According to her, this is not about restricting rights, but about working with a high-risk group.
Military personnel are in a constant state of stress and high psychological pressure, which increases vulnerability to addictions, including gambling addiction. That is why identifying this group is preventive in nature.
“Military personnel are under long-term stress and increased psychological pressure — this increases vulnerability to addictions. Therefore, this approach is justified from the perspective of state policy,” Denikeieva noted.
At the same time, the state acknowledges that there are currently no systematic studies on the level of gambling addiction among military personnel, which complicates assessing the scale of the problem. The new mechanism is planned to be integrated into the existing digital system for gambling market control.
Currently, licensed operators are required to check players in the state register of persons with restricted access to gambling. After the changes, the system will also automatically cross-check data with the register of military personnel being prepared by the Ministry of Defense.
Information exchange will take place through the “Trembita” electronic interaction system. In case of a match, the system will automatically block access to gambling without explaining the reason to the operator — only a technical confirmation of the restriction will be provided. The process is expected to take a few seconds and will not require the participation of the user or the casino.
The state also notes the risk of growth in the illegal gambling market. Therefore, efforts to combat shadow operators are planned to be strengthened in parallel. In particular, work is already underway to block illegal websites, stop unlawful advertising, impose fines, and transfer materials to law enforcement agencies.
Law enforcement authorities are identifying organizers of illegal gambling and preparing cases for court. Experts say the effectiveness of the reform will depend not only on restrictions, but also on the ability to control the shadow segment of the market.