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Ukraine’s new regulatory body, PlayCity, has granted its first international accreditation to the US-based Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), with its European subsidiary, GLI Europe B.V., authorised to operate from the Netherlands.
The appointment marks a major shift in how the Ukrainian government handles the certification of gaming hardware and software. GLI Europe B.V. is now the only foreign entity authorized to act as both a testing/certification provider and an inspection body for the country’s regulated market.
Accreditation’s Significance
This accreditation arrives at a volatile time for the war-torn Ukrainian gaming industry. For much of the past year, the sector has been undergoing a massive reset. In early 2025, the previous regulator, KRAIL, was dissolved following a series of high-profile corruption scandals and allegations of lingering Russian influence.
In its place, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy authorized the creation of PlayCity, a digital-first regulatory agency overseen by the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The goal was to move away from a traditional paper-based oversight and toward a real-time, data-driven system. By bringing in a globally recognised testing provider like GLI—which operates in over 710 jurisdictions—Ukraine is signaling to international investors that it intends to align its standards with those of the EU and North America.
Strict Compliance for Suppliers
Under the new framework, both domestic and foreign gaming suppliers must hold a certificate of approval from PlayCity before they can request product certification. GLI will handle these requests through its European hub, applying international ISO/IEC standards (17025, 17020, and 17065) to ensure that everything from random number generators (RNGs) to physical slot cabinets meets local legal requirements.
“We will bring our global expertise to PlayCity and to suppliers seeking entry into the Ukrainian market, guaranteeing the highest levels of testing quality,” stated James Boje, GLI Managing Director for EMEIA.
The Digital Shift
The timing of GLI’s entry is critical. Ukraine is currently rolling out a new framework called State Online Monitoring System (SOM), which is designed to give the government real-time visibility into operator systems. This system tracks player activity, fund transfers, and winnings via APIs, with the aim of reducing the shadow segment of the market and ensuring fair taxation.
Recent legislative updates have also overhauled the industry’s tax structure, moving toward a flat 18% tax rate on gross gaming revenue (GGR). These changes, combined with the new accreditation of international labs, suggest that Ukraine is prioritizing a quality‑focused approach to its gaming market, aimed at enhancing player protection and transparent digital control.
Broader Impact
For the gaming industry, this news indicates that Ukraine remains a viable—albeit more strictly regulated—hub for iGaming and land-based operations despite the ongoing conflict. For players, it means that the software powering their favorite games will now be subject to the same rigorous testing standards found in major markets like the UK or the Philippines, where GLI also recently secured similar first-of-their-kind accreditations.
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