2022 the year has become a real test for all spheres of the Ukrainian economy, including the gambling business. But, according to analysts, the latter managed to demonstrate a high level of adaptability. Market volumes have declined, but in general, operators and the state managed to keep it afloat. This once again brings, that only the joint work of the state and business can bring results.
results 2022 of the year for the gambling business
The war significantly affected the legal gambling market in Ukraine. In fact, the market has been kept by quickly changing the format of the work of operators: many have moved online. But the land sector has a harder time.
Key problems of the land-based sector of the gambling business in Ukraine:
- Most of its representatives lost a lot of tangible assets, forced to close ground-based establishments. According to CRAIL, 39 casinos and slot machine halls stopped working. Some are physically destroyed, some ended up in temporarily occupied territories.
- No work at night due to curfew. That is, every day gambling establishments lose several hours of working time., which in the pre-war period were among the most productive and profitable. Constant power outages also prevented the stable operation of the halls..
- Lack of tourist flow, which is traditionally an important source of income for the land-based gambling business.
- A sharp increase in the number of illegal gambling halls, who use wartime and work without complying with any requirements of the law.
Due to such an extensive list of problems, the gambling business needs state support.. And for such cooperation to be effective, need a platform for inclusive dialogue.
In this regard, the majority of representatives of the legal land-based segment within the framework of the Ukrainian Gambling Council association have prepared an appropriate collective appeal to government officials. They propose to create a powerful platform for a broad dialogue “Government + Business”, which would allow for quick resolution of issues, related to the functioning of the legal land-based sector of gambling.
The appeal also lists steps to preserve and support land-based legal gambling. Among the key points – increase in the term of payment of license fees up to 180 calendar days, reduction of license fee for the period of martial law, the possibility of payment by the organizers of license fees for every three months of the license.
