Ban on Military Participation in Gambling Could Drive Soldiers to Illegal Operators – Industry Association
A government proposal to impose a complete ban on military personnel participating in gambling activities has raised concerns among representatives of the Ukrainian Association of Gambling Business Operators (UAGBO). They argue that such a ban may lead to a rapid shift of military personnel to illegal gambling platforms, increasing risks related to data leaks and failing to address gambling addiction within the ranks.
The proposed resolution by the government, which aims to enforce a total prohibition on military personnel engaging in gambling, has sparked significant concern among members of the Ukrainian Association of Gambling Business Operators (UAGBO). They believe that this ban could lead to a swift exodus of military personnel to illegal gambling operators, thereby increasing the risks of data breaches concerning military personnel and failing to resolve the issue of gambling addiction among them. This information is contained in a letter from the association addressed to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The letter highlights that implementing a complete ban on military personnel's participation in gambling does not eliminate the existing demand. The lack of legal access will compel this category of individuals to seek alternatives in the uncontrolled segment, particularly on illegal online platforms, most of which have ties to the Russian Federation. This information is corroborated by a copy of the letter that was provided to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
It is worth noting that on March 20, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine released a draft resolution for public discussion titled 'On Approving the Procedure for Restricting Military Personnel's Participation in Visiting Gambling Establishments and Engaging in Gambling Activities.' This document proposes a complete blockade of access to gambling for all military personnel through the synchronization of registers of military personnel and individuals restricted from gambling activities. The government suggests implementing a mechanism whereby each player will undergo a check to determine whether they are military personnel. For this purpose, licensed gambling operators will send inquiries to the military personnel register.
The UAGBO emphasized that these restrictions will only apply to checks conducted by licensed operators and will not affect illegal gambling organizers in any way. Unlike the legal market, which has mechanisms for responsible gaming, identification, and control, illegal operators do not impose any restrictions. According to association representatives, this only heightens the risks of addiction among military personnel due to the absence of preventive tools.
The association also reminded that it previously commissioned a study from the international company KANTAR, which showed that military personnel engage in gambling no more frequently than the average Ukrainian. The issue of gambling addiction among military personnel is neither widespread nor unique to this social group. This is an important aspect to consider when making decisions regarding gambling regulation.
In its address, the UAGBO specifically highlighted its support for state policies aimed at protecting military personnel and minimizing risks associated with gambling addiction. The association believes it is prudent to conduct a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of already implemented measures before making informed regulatory decisions, as well as to initiate relevant sociological research.
'Effective regulation should be based not on a total ban but on controlled and targeted mechanisms that allow for risk minimization without pushing players into the illegal segment,' the UAGBO concluded, urging the government to refrain from adopting the resolution and sending alternative proposals to the Ministry of Digital Transformation regarding the regulation of this issue.