A landmark nationwide survey has exposed something striking in Ukraine: public concern about gambling vastly outpaces actual participation in the activity. Despite 75% of respondents identifying gambling as a serious challenge facing the country, just 5% reported having gambled in the previous year, and a mere 2% in the last month.

The study, commissioned by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and conducted by the Centre for Responsible Gaming, surveyed 3,164 adults across diverse demographic segments, including military personnel, internally displaced persons, and young people. The findings underscore a nation wrestling with how to regulate an industry that the public perceives as problematic even as personal engagement remains limited.

Perception versus reality

The research paints a nuanced picture. Around 84% of respondents did not identify as gamblers; one in three stated they did not know anyone who gambles. Yet three-quarters expressed concern about gambling’s societal impact. This gap between perception and direct experience is telling. Public attitudes are shaped by factors beyond personal exposure, whether media coverage, anecdotal accounts, or broader anxieties about addiction and financial harm.

Among those who did engage with gambling, financial motivation dominated overwhelmingly. Seventy percent cited the desire to win money, whilst emotional factors like excitement accounted for 41% of motivation. Here’s the encouraging bit: 83% of past participants reported having stopped gambling, with loss of interest and financial constraints cited as primary reasons for cessation.

Targeted regulation taking shape

The survey findings are already informing policy responses. Military personnel and young people emerged as higher-risk groups, prompting targeted interventions. PlayCity has launched an automated system blocking access for Ukrainian servicemen under martial law restrictions introduced in 2024, whilst operators receive only binary access approval without disclosure of personal data.

Public support for regulatory tightening is substantial. Sixty-seven percent favour strict sector regulation, and 74% advocate stronger protections against addiction. Advertising restrictions topped the regulatory wish list, with 50% supporting tighter controls on gambling promotion. Admittedly, advertising influences only 4% of actual gamblers surveyed.

Infrastructure for future intervention

The ministry is moving beyond survey data towards real-time monitoring infrastructure. Planned enhancements to the State Online Monitoring System will track in-game activity and enable early intervention for players exhibiting risky behaviour patterns. Awareness of responsible gaming tools remains relatively high amongst recent players, with 71% knowing they can access personal play statistics and 60% understanding options to set time and financial limits.

Officials have framed these preliminary results as stage one of a multi-phase research project. Subsequent waves will examine player behaviour dynamics, risk assessment methodologies, and the practical effectiveness of harm-reduction tools. This methodical approach suggests Ukraine is building evidence-based regulation rather than reactive policymaking.

What the team thinks

Carl Mitchell says:

This survey raises a fascinating point about public perception versus reality that I’ve seen play out across different markets, but I’d argue it tells us more about Ukraine’s unique challenges than about gambling itself, particularly given the country’s ongoing conflict and economic instability which naturally amplifies concerns about all vice industries. What’s missing here is context around harm reduction and regulated market access, because in my experience covering the UK scene, properly licensed operators with robust responsible gaming frameworks actually help address public health concerns rather than exacerbate them, and I’d be curious whether the survey distinguished between concerns about illegal gambling operations versus legitimate, regulated providers. The real story might not be that Ukrainians have a gambling problem, but rather that they need a clearer regulatory landscape and player protection standards to bring informal gambling activity into the light.