A sharp public conflict has erupted between the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and Member of Parliament Danilo Hetmantsev. The ministry emphasized that for the past year, they have faced a systematic campaign of discreditation, which, according to them, is based on distortion of facts, manipulation, and dissemination of false information.
This is reported by Business • Media
“The ministry stated that for the past year they have faced a systematic campaign of discreditation, which they believe is based on distortion of facts, manipulation, and dissemination of unreliable information.”
The ministry highlighted that a number of accusations related to the regulation of gambling and the operation of digital state systems are not true.
Online Monitoring System and Responsibility for Launch: Ministry of Digital Transformation’s Position
One of the key issues in the dispute has been the State Online Monitoring System for Gambling (DOSM). The ministry stated that until 2025, it had no authority to create or launch this system. The responsibility for regulating the gambling market for five years belonged to KRAIL, but the system was never implemented. Only after the functions were transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the establishment of the PlayCity agency did the practical implementation of the DOSM project begin.
Lottery Market and Player Restrictions
The Ministry of Digital Transformation paid special attention to the competition for determining the operators of state lotteries. The ministry noted that the current market model was formed as a result of the adoption of the relevant law in 2012, which defined the rules for market access and its main participants. It is emphasized that Danilo Hetmantsev was involved in the development of legislative approaches in the lottery sector, so criticism from him, according to the ministry, appears contradictory.
The ministry also refuted accusations of excessive leniency towards gambling operators. They explained that the ability to independently set spending limits for players is defined by law, and the state is only obliged to establish maximum limits. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, overly strict regulation could lead to an increase in the illegal segment of the market, where control mechanisms do not operate.
PlayCity and the Fight Against Illegal Platforms
Another point of conflict was the blocking of illegal gambling resources. The ministry reported that after the launch of PlayCity, the blocking procedure became significantly more efficient: now providers receive decisions on restricting access to illegal platforms within 24 hours. The total amount of fines imposed on market violators has already exceeded 80 million UAH.
The latest statement from the Ministry of Digital Transformation has become one of the harshest responses directed at the deputies in recent times. The current situation indicates an escalation of the discussion regarding the future of the gambling market, the effectiveness of state control, and responsibility for decisions that have defined the rules of operation in the sector over the past decade.
Questions of market transparency, the effectiveness of digital tools for state oversight, and accountability for decisions made have come to the forefront.
The Ministry’s statement came against the backdrop of a legal dispute between Acting Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Borynyakov and Member of Parliament Danilo Hetmantsev. Borynyakov previously filed a lawsuit for the protection of honor and business reputation due to public accusations from the deputy regarding the official’s alleged involvement in problems with gambling regulation and the implementation of digital projects.
In response, Hetmantsev stated his intention to use the court process as a platform to discuss issues related to the gambling market, the launch of DOSM, the “eExcise” system, lottery licensing, and other digital reforms. The deputy also considers involving representatives from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and law enforcement agencies to clarify the circumstances surrounding a number of high-profile state projects.
It is worth noting that PlayCity, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, continues a large-scale reform of the gambling market. In April, the regulator imposed fines on gambling organizers totaling 946 million UAH.