GLI, the world leader in gaming equipment certification, applied to the Ukrainian Gambling Commission
GLI, the world leader in gaming equipment certification, applied to the Ukrainian Gambling Commission

GLI, the world leader in gaming equipment certification, applied to the Ukrainian Gambling Commission for inclusion in the list of the subjects of certification of gaming equipment, informs UGIA.

In early July, GLI Europe B.V., a world leading company in testing, certification and inspection of gaming equipment, applied to the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) for inclusion in the list of the subjects of certification of gaming equipment.

The Law of Ukraine “On state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling” sets forth that “subjects of certification shall be foreign and/or Ukrainian business entities that may carry out certification and inspection of gaming equipment in accordance with the law, accredited by the national accreditation authority of Ukraine or accreditation of which by a foreign accreditation authority is recognized on the basis of an international agreement of Ukraine, on compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020 (DSTU ISO/IEC 17020) and ISO/IEC 17025 (DSTU ISO/IEC 17025) or other standards replacing them for carrying out works on certification and inspection of gaming equipment” (subpara. 59, para. 1, Article 1).

According to the information contained in the register of the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA), GLI Europe B.V. is accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) according to EN ISO/IEC 17020, EN ISO/IEC 17025 and EN ISO/IEC 17065 in the field of inspection, testing and certification of gaming equipment. At the same time, Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have undertaken international obligations to mutually recognize the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in accordance with the agreements on mutual recognition of accreditation in the framework of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA).

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), that includes GLI Europe B.V., is a world leader in the sphere of testing, certification and inspection of gaming equipment. GLI has an impeccable reputation and enjoys confidence of regulators, gaming business and consumers of gaming services in about 500 regulated jurisdictions around the world, in which certificates and other documents issued by GLI laboratories are recognized.

Certification of gaming equipment for compliance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling” (in total, more than 40 precise requirements) should ensure the rights and interests of consumers of gaming services, as well as transparency of gambling operators’ activities, in particular regarding correct payment of taxes by the gambling operators and prevention of the use of gambling for money laundering.
Instead, as of today the Law of Ukraine “On state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling” is not actually implemented in respect of certification of gaming equipment due to the lack of accredited certification bodies and laboratories in Ukraine complying with the requirements of the Law to the subjects of certification which must carry out testing and certification of gaming equipment, – that is “the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020 (DSTU ISO/IEC 17020) and ISO/IEC 17025 (DSTU ISO/IEC 17025) or other standards replacing them for carrying out works on certification and inspection of gaming equipment”. Accordingly, the State lacks the tools for exercising effective control over the observance by gambling operators of the requirements established for gaming equipment, including online systems, random number generators, etc.

It will be recalled that KRAIL’s powers include determining the list of the subjects of certification and the list of the certificates automatically recognized in Ukraine. KRAIL’s decision on the application submitted by GLI Europe B.V. will provide an unambiguous answer as to whether Ukraine is interested in creating a transparent gambling market attractive for foreign investors.