In 2025, Ukrainians replenished their gambling accounts by UAH 158 billion, averaging about UAH 433 million per day. This is written by People’s Deputy Nina Yuzhanina, citing NBU data.
Such amounts of spending indicate a further increase in gambling addiction among the population.
At the same time, UAH 105 billion in winnings paid to players (about 66% of the amount of replenishments) raises doubts about their real origin. According to the NBU, a significant number of cases are recorded when payments are made to bank cards that do not match the replenishment cards, or unusually large transfers are made.
Yuzhanina links such anomalies to several systemic problems in the gambling market.
Among the key reasons:
- the lack of a state system for online monitoring of the gambling market, which should have been introduced a few years ago;
- the widespread use of fictitious players — the so-called “drops,” to whose accounts significant amounts of money can be withdrawn;
- the lack of effective restrictions on playing time and gambling spending.
In her opinion, this situation poses a risk of money laundering, contributes to the growth of social problems, and leads to budget losses, which is especially critical in times of war.
