written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
23 Feb 2021
Journalist, Editorial Department
Ukraine's Unified Regulator for the Gambling Business (KRAIL) has officially announced its intention to grant a license for gambling operations to the five-star Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv. The relevant resolution is available on the Commission's website. Plans are in place to open a Shangri-La casino within the premises of this hotel.
The Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv has become the first luxury hotel in the Ukrainian capital to be granted the legal right to establish a gambling facility on its grounds. Reports indicate that organizers will be able to construct a large casino spanning 1,562.1 square meters, featuring VIP guest rooms, a spacious slot machine hall, and a sports betting area.
Ukrainian media claim that the shareholders of Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv have already reached an agreement with foreign investors to open the first elite Shangri-La casino in Kyiv, owned by Storm International. However, the company has yet to receive approval from KRAIL to enter the Ukrainian jurisdiction, so no official confirmation of this information has been provided.
It is important to note that the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv is one of the most prestigious hotels in the Ukrainian capital, having opened its doors in 2010. It regularly hosts influential political figures, business leaders, and international guests. According to insider information, the owner of this property is entrepreneur Leonid Yuryshev.
Additionally, it has been reported that the Kyiv hotels "Rus" and "Lybid" have also received permission to open gambling establishments on their premises.
Currently, the Ukrainian gambling regulator has issued licenses for the establishment of casinos and other gambling facilities to 12 hotel complexes across the country. Five of these are located in Kyiv, two in Lviv, and one each in Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, and Bila Tserkva.
As a reminder, Ukraine has announced its first gambling exhibition in 11 years.
