The Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators (AUGO) has raised concerns about the growing threat posed by the black market in online gambling, which is expected to significantly impact the legal gambling industry’s revenue in Ukraine. According to AUGO President Oleksandr Kohut, the legal gambling sector in Ukraine is projected to lose at least UAH 1,5 billion by the end of 2025, as the unregulated market gains momentum. This prediction was made during a meeting of the association’s participants, where Kohut emphasized the need for regulatory measures to curb the expansion of the black market.
Kohut’s remarks highlight the rapid growth of the black market, which is outpacing the legal gambling sector and eroding its revenue sources. The association reported that the Ukrainian IGaming market, which includes both legal and illegal operations, generated UAH 27.1 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025. This figure underscores the scale of the challenge faced by the legal gambling industry, as it contends with increasing competition from unregulated operators.
The rise of the black market in online gambling presents a complex set of challenges for Ukrainian authorities and the legal gambling sector. While the legal market has been regulated to ensure compliance with financial and consumer protection standards, the unregulated market has been able to exploit loopholes and operate with less oversight. Kohut’s warning serves as a call to action for policymakers and industry stakeholders to implement measures that can reduce the appeal of the black market and protect the interests of the legal gambling sector.
The potential loss of UAH 1,5 billion in revenue is a significant blow to the Ukrainian legal gambling industry, which relies on regulated operations to generate income and maintain market stability. As the black market continues to grow, the legal sector faces mounting pressure to adapt its strategies and find ways to remain competitive in the face of increasing unregulated competition.