Ukrainians against gambling
A new poll revealed that most citizens in Ukraine are against the legalisation of gambling in the territory.
Ukraine.- A new poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has revealed that most people in Ukraine are against the legalisation of gambling in the country. The multi-targeted poll was conducted on December 1-12.
According to Kyiv Post, 56% of respondents said that they don’t fully support the legalisation of the gambling business. Another 19% support it but in special designated gambling zones, while 18% said they’re in favour of the industry.
The respondents were also asked about which games they would like to see legalised in Ukraine. 49.7% answered in favour of lotteries, 22.1% bookmakers, 18.7% casinos, 9.5% online gambling and 6.9% cards. Around 37% said that no gambling games should be legalised.
Moreover, approximately 52% of the people in Ukraine that took part in the poll reacted negatively about the President’s stance on the legalisation of gambling. 35% were in favour of it.
Gambling could add €170 million to the state budget
Olesky Honcharuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine, said that he expects the Parliament to support a bill that legalises gambling in Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is expecting approval in order to perceive higher revenues in the state budget.
During a briefing in which Honcharuk presented the draft state budget for 2020, he said that the industry would be taxed properly, Ukrinform reported. “We are looking forward to Parliament supporting the gambling bill, removing these vending machines from the streets, which will create so much misery for people and take money out of them. At the same time, we anticipate that a normal civilized gambling system, which will be taxed properly, will be created,” Honcharuk said.
The Prime Minister estimates that gambling could add €170 million to the state budget. The new estimations are way higher than what Honcharuk had predicted in the past. He had said that legalising gambling in Ukraine would result in additional €70 million – €88 million to the budget.
