Ukraine Launches Central Gambling Monitoring System DSOM

Ukraine Launches State-Run Gambling Monitoring System – Real-Time Transaction Tracking to Strengthen Oversight and Tax Compliance

Key Takeaways

• Ukraine’s regulator PlayCity has launched a pilot phase of a state-run Online Monitoring System (DSOM) to track licensed gambling transactions.
• The system records bets, returns, and payouts as tamper-resistant transactions with unique identifiers.
• Eleven licensed operators have joined the platform during the trial phase.
• The State Tax Service will access DSOM data to calculate gross gaming revenue and related taxes.
• DSOM does not collect personal player data and does not track funds once they leave the gaming environment.

PlayCity Introduces Centralized Monitoring Platform for Licensed Gambling

Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has initiated the pilot phase of a centralized Online Monitoring System known as DSOM. The platform is designed to capture and consolidate betting activity across the country’s licensed gambling market in near real time.

According to the regulator, the system will track key in-game actions, including bets placed, returns, and payouts. Each transaction will be recorded as a discrete, tamper-resistant entry and assigned a unique identifier. The stated objective is to create a comprehensive operational view of the regulated gambling sector.

At the launch stage, 11 licensed gambling operators have been integrated into the system on a trial basis. Participation is expected to become part of the standard process for newly licensed operators. PlayCity said that once a company secures a gambling licence, its details will be registered in DSOM within one business day.

Focus on Transaction Data, Not Personal Information

DSOM is structured to handle high transaction volumes. The regulator stated that the system can process up to 10,000 transactions per second. The focus is exclusively on transactional data generated within licensed gambling environments.

Authorities clarified that the platform does not collect players’ personal data. It records in-game financial actions but does not monitor or trace funds after they leave the gambling ecosystem. This distinction limits the system’s scope to regulated gambling operations rather than broader financial activity.

To ensure data integrity, DSOM’s architecture is designed to prevent the overwriting of submitted transaction records. This technical safeguard is intended to create an immutable record of betting and payout activity within the licensed market.

The platform includes two separate interfaces. One is intended for use by state regulatory bodies, while the other is accessible to licensed gambling operators. This dual structure enables oversight authorities to review aggregated market data while allowing operators to submit and manage required information.

Tax Compliance and Gross Gaming Revenue Calculation

A central aim of the new system is to strengthen tax compliance. PlayCity stated that the State Tax Service will have access to DSOM data in order to calculate gross gaming revenue, or GGR, and determine associated tax obligations.

This includes not only standard gambling-related taxes but also the military levy and personal income tax linked to gambling activities. By consolidating transaction data in near real time, authorities aim to reduce discrepancies in reporting and improve the accuracy of tax assessments.

For licensed operators, the introduction of DSOM adds a structured reporting layer to daily operations. Since all in-game transactions are recorded and centrally stored, discrepancies between operator-reported figures and system data can be identified through direct comparison.

Regulatory Background and Institutional Changes

Ukraine legalized gambling in 2020. Since then, the country’s regulatory framework has undergone institutional changes. PlayCity became the designated state agency responsible for regulating gambling and lotteries after policy functions were transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Its predecessor, the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries, known as KRAIL, was dissolved in April 2024. The dissolution followed ongoing issues related to delays in issuing gambling licences.

The launch of DSOM represents a further step in the digitalization of gambling supervision. It follows another recent initiative by PlayCity: the introduction of an online complaints system aimed at accelerating public reporting of illegal gambling advertising.

Enforcement activity has also continued alongside regulatory reforms. Earlier this week, a Kyiv city court convicted three individuals for operating an illegal gambling business disguised as a legitimate enterprise. While this case is separate from the DSOM rollout, it reflects ongoing scrutiny of unlicensed gambling activity.

Implications for Licensed Operators and Market Transparency

For operators active in Ukraine’s regulated market, integration into DSOM introduces standardized, centralized transaction reporting. Since the system records betting activity in near real time and prevents record alteration, it establishes a uniform data foundation for both regulatory supervision and tax enforcement.

For users, the system does not introduce new data collection on personal identity, according to the regulator’s description. Its scope is limited to in-game financial transactions within licensed platforms.

The pilot phase with 11 operators will test the system’s technical capacity and operational integration before broader rollout across the licensed market. Over time, DSOM is expected to serve as the core infrastructure for transaction-level monitoring in Ukraine’s regulated gambling sector.

Our Assessment

The launch of DSOM marks the introduction of a centralized, state-run transaction monitoring system for Ukraine’s licensed gambling market. The platform records bets, returns, and payouts in near real time, provides data access to tax authorities, and is designed to prevent alteration of submitted records. According to PlayCity, the system aims to improve tax compliance and enable data-driven supervision while excluding the collection of personal player data. The pilot phase with 11 operators represents the first implementation stage of this digital oversight framework.