Ukraine’s gambling industry is asking the government to avoid a full ban on military personnel and use a more targeted system instead. The Ukrainian Gambling Business Association says restrictions should apply only in cases where there is a clear problem, rather than across the whole armed forces.
The proposal comes as the government considers a stricter approach during martial law. Under the current draft plan, military personnel could be blocked from licensed gambling platforms through an automated system linked to state records.
Commanders would flag service members case by case
The industry group wants commanders to be able to start the restriction process for individual soldiers whose gambling activity creates disciplinary, financial or operational problems. Under that model, the regulator would then add the person to the register of individuals barred from gambling.
The association says this would keep the focus on people who are actually at risk. It argues that not every service member should be treated the same way, especially when the issue may concern only a smaller group of players.
It has also pointed to existing gambling law as a possible legal base for this approach. In its view, current rules already allow gambling restrictions to be applied at the request of third parties, and that framework could be adjusted for military-related cases without moving to a full ban.
Industry says a full ban would go too far
The group is pushing back against the broader government draft, which is based on automatic checks and would apply across the military. In its view, that approach goes beyond the actual problem and risks bringing in restrictions that are too wide.
Another concern is the illegal market. The association says a full ban could lead some military players to move from licensed operators to unregulated sites instead of stopping gambling activity altogether. That argument is likely to stay central as officials decide whether a full ban would reduce harm or simply move it elsewhere.
Government now faces a choice over the scope of restrictions
The government has not made a final decision, but the main issue is now clear. Ukraine can move ahead with a universal block on military gambling during martial law, or it can choose a case-by-case system aimed at higher-risk service members.
The core dispute is no longer about whether restrictions should exist. It is about how far those restrictions should go, and whether the state wants a broad ban or a narrower model built around specific cases.
