Assessing Gambling Addiction Among Service Members
A study conducted by the international firm Kantar indicates that gambling addiction is not a widespread issue among military personnel. In mid-2025, proposals were made to restrict soldiers' access to online casinos. However, representatives of the legal gambling market warn that such a ban could drive players toward illegal platforms, most of which are of Russian origin, raising significant security concerns. This debate occurs in a country where the armed forces are on high alert, making data security a paramount issue.
The Kantar research surveyed men and women aged 18 to 69 who had used gambling services in the preceding three months. The online questionnaire lasted 20 minutes. The average amount spent by a service member per game session is 3,100 hryvnias, which is higher than the national average of 2,700 hryvnias. Over 50% of Ukrainians believe gambling among soldiers is a common phenomenon, while approximately 20-25% personally know a service member who has gambled.
Oleksandr Kohut noted: 'The problem of gambling addiction among the military is exaggerated. Sociological data does not confirm that this issue is widespread or unique to this group. They gamble no more than the average Ukrainian.'
Furthermore, Hennadii Novikov warned that banning legal operators for military personnel could lead to a significant shift in demand to illegal platforms: 'If we ban legal operators for the military and simultaneously do nothing about the illegal market, there is a high risk that a significant portion of the demand will simply go underground.' Oleksandr Kohut also expressed concerns about the consequences of such restrictions: 'For us, the outcome of any administrative restrictions for Ukrainian soldiers is very obvious and predictable: soldiers who are restricted will immediately switch to illegal platforms.'
Security Threats and Further Research
It is important to note that 90% of illegal gambling platforms originate from Russia. Kohut pointed out that Russian platforms could be used to collect data on Ukrainian soldiers and for recruitment purposes: 'Do we really want our soldiers playing on Russian sites and being recruited there?' According to Kohut, the legal industry is interested in thorough market monitoring to avoid baseless accusations and currently maintains that widespread gambling addiction in the army is a myth.
Another Kantar study is planned for 2026, along with a separate study by the Center for Responsible Gaming. However, representatives of the legal industry emphasize the need for access to Bank ID verification systems to gain an advantage over illegal platforms, which face no such restrictions. Legal casinos must adhere to strict requirements, including honest tax payments, compliance with regulator demands, and protecting minors from gambling. In contrast, illegal platforms operate without these safeguards, jeopardizing player security.
The Kantar study suggests the problem of gambling addiction among soldiers is not as large-scale as a significant part of society believes. This finding could have important implications for shaping Ukraine's gambling policy, as banning legal platforms may increase the popularity of illegal sites, posing a threat to both players and national security. In light of this data, continued monitoring of the situation and studying the impact of gambling on various social groups, as well as developing strategies to prevent a shift to the illegal market, are crucial. The challenge lies in balancing personal freedoms with national security in a highly regulated sector.