Gennady Novikov

Gennady Novikov served as the chairman of PlayCity, the digital‑first gambling regulator created by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation to replace the discredited KRAIL. Appointed in 2025, he led the agency’s efforts to build a state online monitoring system and combat illegal gambling. In interviews he described blocking illegal sites as a key priority but acknowledged the system was “not a 100% effective tool.”

After one year in the role, following the appointment of a new Minister of Digital Transformation, Novikov submitted his resignation on 16 July 2026, stating it was a personal decision and that he had no immediate career plans. Before leading PlayCity, he likely worked within the Ministry of Digital Transformation team, but no other dated positions have been publicly confirmed.