On Wednesday, April 24, the Verkhovna Rada plans to consider a bill that provides for the liquidation of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL) and strengthening of control over the gambling business. This was reported by UNN with reference to the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada meeting.
Details
According to the draft law No. 9256-d "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Combat Gambling Addiction (Ludomania) and Improve State Regulation of Activities Related to the Organization and Conduct of Gambling and Lotteries," it is planned to liquidate the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries and transfer its functions to "the central executive body that implements state policy in the field of organization and conduct of gambling." It is likely that such powers will be transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, headed by Mykhailo Fedorov.
It is noted that such a body will perform functions in relation to:
approving regulations on issues within its competence;
summarizing the practice of applying legislation on the organization and conduct of gambling;
submitting proposals for draft laws and other regulatory acts in the field of gambling;
developing and submitting for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers licensing conditions for conducting business activities in the field of organizing and conducting gambling;
approving the list, form and procedure for reporting by gambling organizers;
determining the list of gambling equipment subject to certification;
establishing the procedure for inspecting gambling equipment;
establishing requirements for the State Online Monitoring System, developing and submitting to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval the procedure for the functioning of the State Online Monitoring System;
approving the procedure for inspecting gambling facilities.
The authorized body will issue gambling licenses, take measures to prevent and detect violations of the law in the field of organizing and conducting gambling, and impose sanctions on gambling organizers.
Inspections of gambling organizers may be carried out upon request of players with a complaint about the actions or inaction of gambling organizers.
The inspections will include:
inspection of the place of gambling with the right to receive explanations, information, data, video recordings, documents necessary for the performance of their duties;
an experiment with the participation of authorized officials of the Authorized Body using a test situation.
The inspection process must be recorded by means of audio, video and photographic equipment.
The draft law also establishes additional requirements for the revocation of licenses, improves the requirements for impeccable business reputation of officials of gambling organizers, and sets requirements for gambling service providers.
In particular, gambling organizers cannot be persons who are citizens of a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine, or persons subject to sanctions.
Also, a gambling organizer cannot use a brand if it has already been used or belonged to companies that are residents of a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine.
The draft law also establishes new requirements for gambling advertising, a ban on sponsorship, and restrictions for gamblers.
In particular, gambling advertising will be prohibited:
in any audiovisual and audio media, regardless of their distribution technology;
in online media;
in all print media (except for specialized publications dedicated to gambling);
in sports, medical, scientific, popular science, educational, social and political, reference, literary and artistic publications, publications for children and youth, and other publications (except for specialized publications on gambling);
on transportation, including vehicles and equipment;
on outdoor advertising;
in places where mass political, educational, religious events, sporting events and sports competitions, and entertainment events are held;
on the Internet.
It is also planned to ban gambling advertising via SMS, mail, and phone calls.
Persons under the age of 21 will be prohibited from participating in gambling advertising, including models, volunteers, and military personnel, as well as persons in military uniforms (even if they are not military personnel), athletes, and doctors.
It is planned to prohibit military personnel from visiting gambling facilities and participating in gambling for the period of martial law. Servicemen will be included in the Register of persons who have limited access to gambling facilities and/or participation in gambling.
Also, individuals can independently restrict themselves from visiting gambling facilities and participating in gambling for a period of 6 months to 3 years by submitting an application in person, which can be submitted in paper or electronic form.
The draft law will also establish new fines for advertisers and gambling organizers.
Thus, if the gambling organizer fails to submit reports, submits them late or submits inaccurate reports, a fine of 24 minimum wages will be applied.
If the organizer fails to connect gambling equipment to the State Online Monitoring System, the fine will be 1000 minimum wages.
The new law will impose a fine of 600 minimum wages for violation of advertising rules.
Recall
On April 4, the Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy approved the draft law N9256-d "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Organization and Conduct of Gambling and Lotteries" at its meeting.