Authorities tighten control over gambling business

On April 4, the Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the law on strengthening control over the gambling business.

According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, in addition to the liquidation of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, the document contains many provisions on toughening advertising requirements, the main ones being as follows.

1. By platforms - gambling advertising is prohibited:

1) in any audiovisual and audio media regardless of their distribution technology

2) in online media;

3) in all printed media (except for specialized publications dedicated to gambling);

4) in all publications (except for specialized publications dedicated to gambling);

5) by means of internal advertising;

6) on transport, including vehicles and equipment;

7) through advertising events;

8) by means of outdoor advertising;

9) in places of public events;

10) on the Internet, including on video sharing platforms and information sharing platforms;

11) offering or providing any direct or indirect reimbursement of expenses for access to participation in gambling;

12) placing images or references to gambling, trademarks, other intellectual property rights under which gambling activities are carried out, as well as other designations under which gambling is carried out, on any goods (items), except for placing them on goods (items) related to the organization and conduct of gambling;

13) sending messages to an indefinite number of persons by mail, e-mail, or mobile communication.

2. It is prohibited to use gambling advertising:

• participation of persons under the age of 21, including as photo models;
• Participation of volunteers and/or military personnel, as well as persons whose appearance imitates the appearance of military personnel;
• participation of popular persons or direct or indirect approval of gambling by popular persons, as well as the use of images and mentions of the names of popular people, heroes of cinema, television and animated films, authoritative organizations;
• participation of athletes, doctors and other professional medical workers, as well as persons whose appearance imitates the appearance of athletes and doctors;
• the use of topics related to deterring and repulsing the armed aggression of the Russian Federation during the period of martial law, as well as any patriotic appeals and/or symbols aimed at ensuring state sovereignty, security and defense, patriotic education or any other means to create a misleading impression of the connection between participation in gambling and repulsing the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

The main rule (which was used to circumvent the ban): Business entities that have a license to conduct gambling activities cannot be sponsors.

Violation of the requirements is subject to sanctions, including revocation of the license.