Compliance Updates
Ukraine’s Evolving Gambling Landscape: Insights from the Panel of European Gaming Congress in Warsaw
The panel discussion last week, at the European Gaming Congress made me feel inspired to contemplate on critical facets of Ukraine’s burgeoning gambling industry, positioning the nation as an appealing prospect for Western European investors. Although unique challenges, including historical financial corruption and external pressures, exist, Ukraine’s European identity makes it an attractive hub for investment. As the country grapples with ongoing conflict, it must simultaneously address customary market concerns such as safeguarding against Russian interference and protecting the personal data of its citizens.
A striking parallel emerged between Ukraine’s gambling landscape and the realm of cryptocurrencies, where combating money laundering and terrorist financing poses significant challenges. The National Bank, equipped with the capacity to monitor financial flows, plays a pivotal role, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies. A comprehensive strategy to combat mis-selling and gray schemes is being executed by the National Bank of Ukraine, alongside the Commission and the Ministry of Finance, resulting in the revocation of licenses, particularly among operators with Russian ties. Comparable license revocations have occurred in several European nations that have issued cryptocurrency licenses.
However, amid the ongoing struggle against these challenges, errors have emerged, exemplified by the imposition of sanctions on prominent Ukrainian industry leaders like Parimatch and Pokermatch. These sanctions have not only significantly impacted the legal gambling sector but have also cast a shadow of caution over Western investors. Notably, the President’s directive to the Cabinet of Ministers, prompted by a citizen petition with 25,000 signatures, seeks to investigate the circumstances leading to the inclusion of Parimatch in the sanctions list of the National Security and Defense Council.
In the wake of the Parimatch case, it’s worth noting that the Cosmolot brand has also recently faced heightened scrutiny, with law enforcement agencies conducting searches and investigations, further emphasizing the need for a robust law enforcement process. Ukrainian Gambling Council, representing 80% of licensed gambling operators, committed to serving its members by actively working on player protection, advertising regulation, and acting as a valuable business ombudsman for the industry, contributing to a more secure and transparent gambling landscape in Ukraine.
As technical impediments are surmounted, the regulatory body demonstrates its efficiency. Critical issues, such as streamlining market access through license issuance, promoting responsible gambling, stricter advertisement rules, and reinvigorating investments, are coming to the fore.
Once the security concerns are addressed, Ukraine is poised to unleash pent-up demand in its gambling sector. This situation will spur investors to contemplate their entry into the market, whether through direct investment, partnerships, or mergers and acquisitions, underlining the evolving landscape of opportunities in Ukraine’s vibrant gambling industry.
Article by Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, Founding Member and Deputy Chairwoman for Communications, Ukrainian Gambling Council
Viktoriya was a speaker at the European Gaming Congress by Hipther, that took place on 31 October at the InterContinental Warsaw. She discussed the emerging Ukrainian iGaming market at the Panel “The Greek Odyssey, La Dolce Vita, La Fiesta Española, The Ukrainian Spirit, and The Portuguese Fado”.
Asia
KONAMI GROUP’s Konami Gaming Inc. First to Submit Manufacturer License Application in Japan’s Emerging IR Market
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION’s long-established gaming & systems group company Konami Gaming Inc. announced it has become the first manufacturer to submit license applications with the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC), government regulatory agency set forth by The Cabinet of Japan. Additionally, Konami is the first manufacturer to file across all applicable license categories. These filings represent milestone events for the nation’s regulatory framework, as Japan’s emerging integrated resort (IR) market progresses in responsible development. As a leading manufacturer of casino games and technology in 400+ regulated markets worldwide, Konami is taking proactive measures in support of the Japan IR market, highly relevant to the organisation’s rich heritage as a Japanese company.
“Konami’s early filing demonstrates our commitment and readiness to engage constructively with Japan’s regulatory framework from the outset. We have approached this process with a focus on transparency, preparation, and alignment with the stringent standards established by the JCRC,” said Lori Olk, senior vice president & chief compliance officer at Konami Gaming Inc.
Construction is currently underway for the first integrated resort in Japan—an expansive development planned for 2030 opening by one of the world’s largest casino and entertainment operators. Against this backdrop, Konami’s early submission positions the company to participate during the formative stages of this emerging regulated market. Committed to the long-term health of Japan’s IR market, Konami has invested significant resources in localisation, documentation and operational planning to ensure alignment with the nation’s legal, regulatory and cultural expectations. The supplier has leveraged its longstanding compliance infrastructure, governance processes and global licensing experience to fulfill detailed requirements of the Japanese regulatory framework.
“This milestone in Konami’s application process with the JCRC represents a significant, coordinated effort across multiple business units and jurisdictions, supported by decades of experience operating in highly regulated gaming markets worldwide. As Japan continues to expand its IR framework, Konami remains focused on supporting regulatory objectives and partnering with stakeholders to deliver compliant, high-quality gaming solutions tailored to the needs of the Japanese market,” said Tom Jingoli, president & chief operating officer at Konami Gaming.
The post KONAMI GROUP’s Konami Gaming Inc. First to Submit Manufacturer License Application in Japan’s Emerging IR Market appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Danish Gambling Authority has published its annual report describing the authority’s work on illegal gambling. In the 2025 report, you can among other things read more about the Authority’s partnerships, website blocking efforts and visits to upper‑secondary education institutions.
Each year, the Danish Gambling Authority publishes a report explaining the rules that determine when gambling is legal in Denmark, and reviewing the initiatives carried out in the past year to combat illegal gambling.
One of the initiatives conducted annually as part of the fight against illegal gambling is the blocking of illegal gambling websites. In 2025, the DGA obtained district court orders to block 334 websites offering illegal gambling. The Authority has entered into a new cooperation agreement with the Danish Telecommunications Industry (Teleindustrien), which provides the basis for blocking mirror sites without a prior court order when the court has already ruled that the content of the original site is illegal.
The DGA also participates in several national and international partnerships focused on combating illegal gambling. For example, through a collaboration with Google, the DGA can report illegal gambling apps in Google Play, after which Google may remove the illegal content. Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, also serves as Chair of GREF (Gaming Regulators European Forum), where the focus is on supporting each other in combating illegal gambling and keeping one another updated on trends observed across the illegal gambling market in Europe.
2025 was also the year in which the DGA was once again invited to visit upper‑secondary education institutions across the country. There was an increasing number of inquiries from sports clubs in 2025 requesting gambling‑related presentations for both amateur and elite clubs, and the DGA’s team of presenters delivered 100 classroom presentations last year.
The post Spillemyndigheden Publishes Report on Illegal Gambling appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
TaDa Gaming has officially secured an online gaming licence from Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR),
This marks another milestone in the company’s strategic expansion across Latin America’s regulated iGaming markets and reinforces its reputation as a trusted and responsible global content provider.
Peru has rapidly emerged as one of Latin America’s fastest growing and regulated online gaming markets following the implementation of its licencing framework. With regulatory certainty creating new opportunities for operators and suppliers alike, TaDa has focused on Peru as a key destination within its long-term Latin American growth strategy.
MINCETUR approval was received prior to TaDa’s successful debut at the Peru Gaming Show (PGS) 2026 in Lima, where the company announced its launch with Peru’s leading operator, Apuesta Total, through long-standing distribution partner Bragg Gaming.
15 certified TaDa titles are currently available in Peru, with additional games scheduled for release as the company continues to expand its local offering.
TaDa’s proven success in regulated jurisdictions across Africa, Europe, North America and the UK, as well as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, has been built on its highly effective glocalisation strategy.
This combines internationally successful core game mechanics with expertly localised content designed to meet the cultural preferences and playing habits of individual markets.
Alongside its award-winning slot portfolio, TaDa’s distinctive fishing-shooting games continue to attract new audiences through their social, skill-based gameplay and broad demographic appeal, especially to younger and new to iGaming audiences.
Its growing gamification ecosystem is designed to enhance player engagement while supporting responsible gaming. GiftCode, WIN CARD, Hot Hand, Highlights, Daily Rewards and Missions provide operators with powerful retention mechanics that deliver measurable value throughout the player lifecycle.
TaDa’s continued investment in regulated markets reflects the company’s broader strategy of sustainable growth. By working closely with regulators, operators and aggregation partners, the supplier continues to deliver compliant entertainment expertly tailored to local player demands.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Securing the MINCETUR licence was another major achievement in our global strategy to be present in all regulated markets.
“There is strong demand for differentiated and expertly localised content in Peru. We are confident that our brand for safe and trustworthy gaming experiences alongside our reputation for working as growth partners with our clients will enable us to succeed.”
The post TaDa Gaming Accelerates LatAm Growth with Peru Licence Approval appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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