New regulator in Ukraine, Mongolia legalizes betting, Armenia raises taxes
Ukraine has established a new state regulatory body to oversee the gambling industry and combat illicit activities. In Mongolia, sports betting has been legalized, but the ban on casinos has remained, and Armenia has increased its tax rate on bookmakers and online casinos.
Ukraine incorporates a new gambling regulator
The Ukrainian government has established a new state agency that will control and regulate gambling and lotteries. This newly established body is responsible for the implementation of state policy in the gambling sector. It has been named PlayCity. This announcement was made by Taras Melnychuk, a government representative in the Ukrainian parliament.
PlayCity is set to function as a centralized executive entity and will be accountable to the Cabinet of Ministers through the Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology — Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
In addition, authorities have intensified their efforts to combat illicit gambling activities. In collaboration with the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRAIL) and the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Center for Operational and Technical Management of Telecommunication Networks took action on March 13, 2025, by imposing restrictions on over 32,000 internet resources offering unlicensed gambling.
The objective of these measures is to establish a regulated gambling environment in the country, safeguarding players by ensuring the transparency of operations and the reputation of the industry as a whole.
Mongolia legalizes sports betting but keeps casino ban
The Mongolian government has passed legislation that permits sports betting while maintaining a prohibition on other forms of gambling. Bookmakers will now be able to operate legally by obtaining licenses from the government.
Furthermore, authorities have increased penalties for engaging in illegal gambling. Citizens who engage in illegal gambling can be fined up to MNT 100,000 (approximately $28.83). In addition, anyone who facilitates such operations, including providing bank accounts, payment systems, or telecommunication networks, will also be held liable.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Uchral Nyam-Osor stated that Mongolia recorded approximately 200 economic crimes involving gambling in 2023. The total financial loss resulting from these activities was MNT 417.2 billion ($144 million).
In addition to the legalization of betting, the government is implementing a ban on gambling advertising and restricting paid online puzzle games that resemble gambling.
Armenia increases taxes for online gambling operators
A new taxation regime for gambling companies has come into force in Armenia. The country’s parliament has adopted a bill that significantly increases the tax burden on online casino and bookmaker operators.
From the 1st of April 2025, bookmakers will pay AMD 100 million (about $253,000) for every 50 billion in turnover. For online casinos, the tax is even higher, at AMD 350 million (approximately $887,000) for every AMD 100 billion of turnover. In addition to these taxes, all operators are still required to pay an annual license fee of AMD 600 million ($1.5 million), as well as corporate tax.
The authorities are considering the creation of a specialized oversight entity to regulate the gambling sector. The topic of banning gambling for certain categories of citizens, such as those who receive social benefits from the government, is also under debate.
