Ukraine Poker Guide 2026: PlayCity , Live Rooms & Taxes

Ukraine is currently navigating a major regulatory "reboot" in 2026. Following the dissolution of the previous regulator (KRAIL), the government has launched PlayCity, a new digital-first agency designed to clean up the market and implement the State Online Monitoring System (SOM). Despite the ongoing conflict, poker remains a legalized and popular pursuit, with the state focusing heavily on "Sport Poker" as a distinct, regulated category to support both the economy and local morale.

Ukraine: The 2026 "PlayCity" Reset

• The New Regulator: In early 2025, President Zelenskyy authorized the replacement of KRAIL with PlayCity. By 2026, this agency has digitized the licensing process, allowing operators to manage compliance via automated metrics and API-driven reporting, specifically to eliminate corruption and foreign interference.

• The SOM Rollout: Phase 2 of the State Online Monitoring System is currently being implemented. This system provides the government with real-time data on every bet, win, and transfer across both land-based and online platforms, ensuring high transparency for player protection.

• Taxation on Winnings: Ukraine maintains a firm tax regime for the gambling sector. Winnings are subject to a 15%-18% tax (depending on the specific bracket and current wartime levies), which is typically withheld at the source by licensed casino cages or online operators.

Ukraine’s Active Venue Network

The infrastructure for poker is split between the capital, Kyiv, and the western cultural hub of Lviv, with a heavy emphasis on "Sport Poker" clubs:

Full House Kyiv (Bessarabsky): Located in the heart of the capital, Full House remains a flagship for live poker in Ukraine. In 2026, it continues to host consistent daily tournaments and cash games, adhering to the latest security protocols and curfews.

Gary Bowman’s Poker Club (Lviv): A legendary name in Ukrainian poker. Located on Nalyvayko Street, this club is the premier destination in Western Ukraine. It is known for its professional atmosphere and for being a safe haven for players seeking regional tournament action.

Casino Shangri La (Kyiv): Located in the Fairmont Grand Hotel, this is the high-end luxury alternative for poker. While it focuses heavily on traditional casino games, its poker room caters to VIP travelers and international high-stakes enthusiasts.

2026 Key Dates & Events

PlayCity SOM Phase 2 Completion (December 2026): The target date for the full integration of land-based and online monitoring, marking the final stage of Ukraine's digital gambling overhaul.

EAPT Cyprus & Sochi Series (March 2026): While not in Ukraine, these regional festivals are the primary travel destinations for Ukrainian poker pros in early 2026, with many local players competing on the international circuit.

Sport Poker Ukraine Open (TBA 2026): Periodic "Sport Poker" festivals are hosted in Kyiv and Lviv to promote the game as a skill-based discipline, often featuring charitable components for national defense.

Online Poker in Ukraine

Online Poker Legislation in Ukraine

The 2009 gambling prohibition includes online gambling as well. Tournament poker is recognized as a game of skill on the other – however, online poker rooms offer cash games too, as well as usually all other kinds of gambling, such as sports betting and casino games.

It’s a complicated situation. In practice, Ukrainian players have no trouble accessing any online poker site of their choosing. Very few poker sites restrict Ukrainian players, and all the biggest ones – partypoker, PokerStars, Unibet, 888 etc – do not.

Live Poker in Ukraine

Live Poker Legislation in Ukraine

We wrote about the 2009 gambling ban in our intro. Soon afterwards, plans to create so-called “gambling” zones with licensed and regulated land casinos were made in the Ukranian parliament. However, the armed territorial conflict with Russia started in 2014, and therefore Ukrainian legislatures had too much to deal with. The gambling zones in Ukraine never came to fruition. However, Russia created its own gambling zones a few years later.

Another crucial takeaway from the intro: live tournament poker is legal in the country, but cash games are not.

Live Poker Venues in Ukraine

In the capital city of Kyiv, the Full House Kyiv poker club is located. There, you can play events with buy-ins ranging between UAH200 ($8.40) and UAH2,000 ($84). They also run some freeroll satellites to bigger events as well.

Another popular poker club in the capital is called EIGHT VIP.

Outside Kyiv, you can find some poker action in the Sparta Poker Club in Dnipro. They run 1-2 events per week, with UAH150 ($6.30) to UAH300 ($12.60) buy-ins.