RESPONSIBLE GAMING

Principles of Responsible Gaming and Measures to Prevent Gambling Addiction

The organizer of gambling activities (hereinafter – the Organizer) adheres to the principles of responsible gaming, set forth in the Organizer’s Rules and Terms and in this section, aimed at preventing and avoiding negative consequences of a person’s participation in gambling activities, as well as combating gambling addiction (ludomania).

Principles of Responsible Gaming

1. Player Identification

The Organizer ensures the identification of the Player in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of Ukraine “On State Regulation of Activities Regarding the Organization and Conduct of Gambling Activities in the Internet” (hereinafter – the Law). 

2. Restrictions on Participation in Gambling

The Organizer does not allow participation in gambling to persons who are restricted from participating in gambling activities or who exhibit signs of gambling addiction (ludomania). 

3. No Incentivization of Losses 

The Organizer refrains from providing the Player with any bonus payments, gifts, and/or goods (services) in any form, or using other types of incentives that are directly or indirectly conditional on the Player’s loss in the respective gambling game. 

4. Prevention of Gambling Addiction (Ludomania)

The Organizer provides informational materials on gambling addiction and responsible gaming, including information on age restrictions, odds of winning, principles of responsible gaming, signs of pathological and problematic gambling behavior, and information about organizations, medical institutions, and/or healthcare professionals providing treatment for gambling addiction. 

5. Self-Control and Self-Limitation

The Player has the right to limit their participation in gambling by setting personal restrictions and monetary limits on the amount they wish to spend on gambling, in accordance with applicable Ukrainian legislation. 

The Player is provided with tools to control their gambling behavior: 

Monetary Limits: The Player may set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits, calculated as a percentage of the Player’s average monthly income, determined by the Player themselves (hereinafter – Average Monthly Income) and may not exceed: 

- Daily – 15% of Average Monthly Income; 

- Weekly – 25% of Average Monthly Income; 

- Monthly – 40% of Average Monthly Income.
Time Limits: The Player may set daily, weekly, and monthly time limits on participation in gambling, as follows: 

- Daily – 1 to 6 hours; 

- Weekly – 7 to 21 hours; 

- Monthly – 22 to 100 hours.

Maximum continuous participation in a gambling game cannot exceed 2 hours, with a mandatory break of at least 15 minutes. 

Self-Exclusion:
The Player may voluntarily limit access to their Personal Account for a period of six months to three years by submitting a request to the Organizer or the authorized body. 

Parental Control: The Organizer recommends establishing parental controls on computers and blocking children’s access to the Organizer’s Website. Login credentials to the Personal Account should not be left in a location easily accessible to children.

Self-restriction application form - DOWNLOAD.
Link to filling out the self-restriction application on the PlayCity SE website https://pc.gov.ua/

6. Player Information

The Organizer informs Players about potential risks associated with gambling. Participation in gambling is prohibited for: 

- Persons under the age of 21; 

- Persons legally incapacitated or partially incapacitated; 

- Persons restricted by applicable Ukrainian law; 

- Persons under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or toxic substances; 

- Persons deemed undesirable by the Organizer; 

- Persons listed in the Register of individuals restricted from gambling venues and/or gambling activities. 

Gambling is solely a form of entertainment and should not be perceived as a means of enrichment, income, or a way to cope with moral or physical pain. Players should remember that gambling should not occupy a significant portion of their life and that attempts to recover losses may increase them.

7. Staff Awareness

The Organizer is obliged to provide training to personnel regarding the principles of responsible gambling, criteria for pathological and problematic gambling behavior, signs of gambling addiction, and measures to prevent it among Players. 

8. Dissemination of Socially Important Information

The Organizer draws the Player’s attention to the signs of gambling addiction (ludomania), which include: 

- Loss of control over gambling (frequency, intensity, duration); 

- Increased priority of gambling over other life interests; 

- Continuing to gamble despite negative consequences; 

- Irresistible urge to gamble and anxiety when unable to play; 

- Increasing bets and time spent gambling; 

- Inability to control gambling activities; 

- Worsening financial situation, debts; 

- Psychological and physical symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, poor nutrition); 

- Lying to others about the extent of gambling involvement. 

Three stages of gambling addiction are distinguished:

1. Winning Stage: Occasional gambling, frequent wins, imagination accompanies gambling, increased frequency of betting, larger bets, fantasies about gambling, unrealistic optimism. 

2. Losing Stage: Gambling alone, preoccupation with gambling, prolonged losing episodes, inability to stop gambling, lying to friends, neglecting family or work, personality changes (irritability, fatigue, withdrawal), borrowing money for gambling, debts, desperate attempts to stop gambling. 

3. Disappointment Stage: Loss of professional and personal reputation, significant increase in time and money spent gambling, distancing from family and friends, guilt, remorse, hatred toward others, panic, illegal activities, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, arrest, substance abuse, emotional disturbances, social isolation. Players must understand the risks of gambling and maintain balance in their lives, ensuring gambling does not interfere with relationships, work, or other activities. If gambling ceases to bring enjoyment and becomes uncontrollable, it is necessary to reflect on the causes and seek help.

Gambling addiction test: https://playcity.gov.ua/borotba-z-ihrovoiu-zalezhnistiu/test-na-ihrovu-zalezhnist

List of medical institutions providing free medical and psychological assistance:
https://playcity.gov.ua/static-objects/playcity/sites/1/content/uploads/perelik-likuvalnix-zakladiv-2025.pdf

List of social service providers for social-psychological rehabilitation of individuals with gambling addiction: https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNzM3ZmE1NDItYmMzMS00ZjIyLWI3YzUtYzliYTFhNTkzNjFmIiwidCI6IjhhZGRkYTA5LTdjMjQtNGRiYi05ZjdmLTIyYTgwZTUyM2NlOSIsImMiOjl9

List of organizations providing free information, consultation, and psychological assistance to persons with gambling addiction and their families:
https://playcity.gov.ua/static-objects/playcity/sites/1/content/uploads/gromadski-organizaciyi.pdf

International organizations working on gambling addiction:

- Gordon Moody (Gambling Therapy) – https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/ 

- National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/ 

- GamCare – https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ 

- BeGambleAware – https://www.begambleaware.org/ 

For additional information on preventing gambling addiction (ludomania), visit the official website of the State Agency PlayCity: https://playcity.gov.ua/borotba-z-ihrovoiu-zalezhnistiu.