Ukraine’s PlayCity Leadership Selection Faces New Transparency Requirements
2026-07-22
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Ukraine’s parliamentary committee chair has proposed a transparent competition for the new PlayCity head, involving anti-corruption and international oversight, following the resignation of Gennady Novikov and a shift in the regulator’s supervision to the Cabinet.
Danylo Hetmantsev, chair of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, has introduced a draft law calling for an open competition to appoint the next head of gambling regulator PlayCity. His proposal stipulates that the selection process incorporate oversight from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and independent international experts.
The move follows Gennady Novikov’s resignation as head of PlayCity, a decision he attributed to a change in leadership at the Ministry of Digital Affairs rather than any corruption allegations. In a social media statement, Novikov said he was “leaving my position with the feeling that we’ve laid the right foundation” and that his decision was made “in good faith.”
Alongside Novikov’s departure, PlayCity’s reporting lines have shifted. A recent Cabinet of Ministers decision placed the regulator under the direct supervision of the Cabinet, removing it from the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s operational control. However, the Ministry of Digital Transformation continues to shape gambling market policy and rules for now.
This restructuring aligns with earlier committee support for moving regulatory responsibility from the Ministry of Digital Transformation to the Ministry of Finance. The broader push for enhanced transparency comes amid mounting concerns over illegal payment flows and potential money laundering risks within Ukraine’s gambling industry.