Ukraine Study Finds 86% of Online Casino Players Prefer Licensed Platforms

A new survey of Ukrainian online casino users suggests that most players are staying within the legal market, with 86% saying they choose licensed operators and 78% indicating they have no plans to move to illegal platforms.

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The findings come from the second stage of a nationwide study on gambling’s impact on society, commissioned by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. Unlike the first phase, which examined public attitudes toward gambling, the latest research focused directly on people who actively use online casinos.

Conducted by the SOCIOINFORM Sociological Center between May 19 and June 26, 2026, the survey included 2,676 respondents through an online CAWI format.

Curiosity, not money, drives most players

The study found that many Ukrainian gamblers entered the market years before regulation was introduced. Among respondents, 20% of men and 5% of women reported more than a decade of gambling experience.

The reasons people start playing also differed from wider public perceptions. While many Ukrainians believe gambling is mainly driven by the hope of making money, active players most often pointed to curiosity and entertainment.

Around 40% said they started because they wanted to try gambling or were interested in it. Others cited gambling as a way to escape everyday routines, interest in promotions, the possibility of earning money, or encouragement from friends.

The results suggest that players themselves view gambling motivation differently from those who do not participate.

Legal platforms seen as safer option

The strongest preference among respondents was for regulated operators. More than half of players identified state oversight as one of the main benefits of the legal market.

Other advantages included lower fraud risks, fair play guarantees, reliable payouts, and safer payment systems.

Illegal operators still attract some users, although they remain a minority. The most common reasons for choosing unlicensed platforms were easier registration without identity checks, anonymity, and the absence of limits or restrictions.

One in five respondents said they know people who use illegal gambling websites.

The findings come as Ukraine continues building its gambling oversight system, including measures aimed at preventing gambling-related harm and improving monitoring of player behavior.

Responsible gaming awareness remains uneven

Most respondents described their gambling as controlled. Around 59% viewed it as entertainment, while 35% admitted that gambling can sometimes become difficult to manage. Another 6% said this happens frequently.

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Some risky behaviors were still reported. Nearly a quarter of participants said they had tried to recover losses by continuing to play, while a similar share admitted spending more than they initially intended.

For 9% of respondents, gambling had already contributed to serious financial, family, or other personal difficulties.

Awareness of responsible gaming tools is growing, but knowledge remains limited. About 64% said they know such tools exist, with self-control and self-exclusion being the most familiar options.

Fewer players were aware of spending and time limits, access to personal gambling statistics, age restrictions, exclusion registers, or organizations offering help for gambling problems.

Players are mostly men with middle incomes

The survey also provided a profile of Ukraine’s online casino audience.

Men represented 73% of respondents, while women accounted for 27%. Most participants had either higher education or specialized secondary education.

The largest income groups were people earning between 11,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias per month and those earning between 31,000 and 50,000 hryvnias.

The results indicate that online gambling users do not belong to one narrow social category, but represent a broader mix of backgrounds.

Regulation gains public support, but awareness needs work

More than half of respondents believe the state currently provides sufficient regulation of the gambling sector. Around 44% expressed trust in the Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity, the government body responsible for gambling oversight.

However, awareness of regulators remains limited. Only 22% said they clearly understand the role of the ministry and PlayCity, while another 30% had some familiarity with their work.

The study is expected to contribute to future gambling policies, including Ukraine’s long-term strategy for preventing gambling addiction through 2035.

For regulators, the data offers a clearer picture of how legal players behave, why they choose certain platforms, and where additional consumer protection measures may be needed.

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Source: playcity.gov.ua