Hi everyone! Nota bene those arriving to Ukraine in next three months.

This topic has initially emerged in OP dedicated to apt rentals, which might happen to be avoided by general audience here, so I decided to re-post my comments as a new OP.

On May 15, 2009, the Parliament has passed the bill to temporarily ban gambling business (including casinos, gambling machines, e-casions, book-making) in Ukraine. The bill came into force on June 26, 2009.

According to the bill, all the already issued licences for gambling business have been withdrawn and the issuance of new ones suspended. Operations without licences are subject to penalties.

This means that all the casinos and other similar places are no longer allowed to provide gambling services, whereas they can keep on running bars, billiard rooms and other entertainment facilities not related to gambling.

Since the bill is newly-adopted, the process of cutting business is still underway - some casinos are being closed, some change their name and status and run limited business as mentioned above.

The bill stipulates that the Government within 3 months has to elaborate new regulation on organization and rendering of gambling services in special restricted zones. Until then both gambling business and participation in gambling is forbidden in Ukraine.

The bill defines gambling as any game, which involves banking (making stakes) in order to win a gain (prize), and the result of which totally or partially depends on accident (chance).

Games admitted as sports in Ukraine (like sport bridge, billiard, bowling) remain legal even if they were run in casinos.