PlayCity Ukraine Head Novikov Steps Down, Regulator Moves Under Cabinet Oversight

Gennady Novikov has resigned as head of Ukraine's gambling regulator PlayCity, stating that he leaves the role confident the agency has established a solid groundwork for the future. Announcing his departure on social media, Novikov said: "I'm leaving my position with the feeling that we've laid the right foundation." He added that the decision was made in good faith, considering what he believes is best for the institution, its team, and the state.

Oversight Shift

Alongside Novikov's exit, PlayCity has undergone a structural change in its governance. Following a recent Cabinet of Ministers decision, the regulator now operates directly under the Cabinet's supervision. Previously, PlayCity fell under the authority of the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Key Achievements

Since PlayCity's launch in June of the previous year, Novikov highlighted several milestones. These include assembling the agency's team, resuming gambling licensing—which generated nearly UAH 2 billion ($44.8 million) in budget revenue—and developing the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS). According to Novikov, 28 of the 30 licensed gambling operators are already linked to SOMS, and preparations are complete for announcing a tender for the system's second implementation phase.

SOMS and Responsible Gaming

Novikov emphasised that SOMS should be fully operational by the end of this year, calling it "critically important for control, taxes, and fair play." Under his leadership, PlayCity also blocked more than 9,500 illegal gambling websites and mirror domains, removed over 700 social media pages advertising unlawful gambling, and introduced new responsible gambling tools. Additionally, the regulator worked with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence to impose restrictions on military personnel's access to gambling, resumed scheduled inspections after a 2022 moratorium, and established anti-corruption monitoring procedures.