EXPERTS Ukraine closes illegal gambling houses 4 years ago Samuel Post Views: 593 Before beginning to build a house on a raw piece of land, you first have to clear out the weeds and overgrowth that would otherwise prevent the construction of a solid, well-built home. Ukraine is at that stage now, contemplating the building of a new legalized gambling industry. While the talk often sees setbacks as a consensus on the subject can’t be found, illegal gambling has flourished across the country and law enforcement officials are working diligently to control the surge. According to a report by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, over 900 illegal gambling facilities have been shut down in just a little more than a month. Ukraine lawmakers tried to pass a legalized gambling bill last month before it was axed. The idea was to allow the country’s more than 5,300 illegal gambling halls to apply for licenses, but resistance to the idea was strong and the bill was scrapped. At the same time, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered that the illegal facilities be closed. There are reportedly a great number of law enforcement investigative teams scouring the country for illegal gambling, ready to pounce on any that are found. The battle has been complicated as those venues moved further underground, masquerading as internet cafés or karaoke bars. According to Alexander Okolit, Head of the Strategic Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine: “There are currently 715 mobile teams in the staff of the Investigative Unit and the Strategic Investigation Department. Mobile groups are constantly monitoring, as well as preventative measures to prevent illegal gambling. In total, there are about 5,300 illegal gambling establishments in the state, including lotteries, which have lost the opportunity to work in the legal field since the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers. It’s also about bookmakers, casinos and other gambling establishments.” As other countries have already realized, the easiest way to help eliminate the vast network of underground illegal gambling spots is to legalize the activity. This is not just the only way to protect consumers, but it means the state can capture a huge amount of tax revenue. In the case of Ukraine, that amount is estimated to be around $190 million this year, according to the head of parliament’s committee on finance, taxation and customs policy, Danylo Hetmantsev. The Economic Development and Trade Ministry adds that around 33% of the country’s gross domestic product is off the books. Given that Ukraine’s economic output in 2019 was about $155 billion, there’s a lot of unclaimed revenue the country is missing. Source: calvinayre.com About Post Author Samuel I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos. See author's posts SamuelI am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Tags: new gambling law, Ukraine Continue Reading Previous Summary of the 2019 Game Year in AfricaNext Gambling On Credit Cards To Be Banned More Stories EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA The BiG Africa Summit 2024: Day Two Recap 1 day ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS NIGERIA Bandits funding terrorism through crowdfunding, betting platforms 2 days ago Samuel EXPERTS KENYA Tappi expands services across Africa beyond Kenya and Nigeria 3 days ago Samuel EXPERTS NIGERIA How NLRC Plans to Regulate Gaming 7 days ago Szarlot EXPERTS UGANDA Top 5 highest-paying jobs in Africa in 2024 1 week ago Szarlot EXPERTS KENYA The impact of Kenya’s Gambling Control Bill 1 week ago Samuel EXPERTS SOUTH AFRICA Celebrate Women in Gaming: Join Us at BiG Africa Summit 2024! 1 week ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS UGANDA Uganda’s government cashes out from gambling boom 1 week ago Iwo Bulski EXPERTS WORLD NEWS The evolution of online gaming in the USA 1 week ago Szarlot EXPERTS UGANDA 1000 Ugandan students drop out annually-reason is gambling 2 weeks ago Szarlot EXPERTS NIGERIA Africa Surges to Become Third Largest E-gaming Market With 186M Players 2 weeks ago Samuel EXPERTS NIGERIA Binance executives detained in Nigeria 2 weeks ago Samuel Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.