Ukraine’s gambling market is undergoing a decisive regulatory reset under the supervision of the newly formed regulator, PlayCity.
Replacing KRAIL, a body that faced criticism for corruption scandals and alleged links to Russia, PlayCity has moved quickly to dismantle the era of opaque oversight.
In an accelerated enforcement campaign, the regulator has already blocked 2,500 illegal gambling websites, effectively removing operators that were generating millions in revenue outside the country’s licensing regime.
The regulator’s strategy combines strict enforcement with the strengthening of the legal market. Alongside the mass blocking of unlicensed domains, PlayCity has issued local licenses worth $33.2 million. This influx of capital signals a renewed confidence among operators willing to comply with strict Ukrainian standards.
A central pillar of PlayCity’s approach involves direct cooperation with social media platforms to combat illegal advertising. The regulator has pushed for the rapid removal of promotions for unlicensed casinos and has extended penalties to individuals facilitating these activities.
Fines totaling $1.2 million have already been imposed on those involved in advertising or facilitating illegal gambling.
Looking ahead, PlayCity is engaging Ukraine’s robust IT sector to develop a cross-industry detection tool capable of identifying unlawful gambling domains in real-time.
This automated approach aims to provide a sustainable method for flagging and disabling unlicensed websites.
Furthermore, the regulator has intensified scrutiny on influencers and online personalities who promote unregulated casinos, addressing a global trend where offshore operators leverage social media reach to bypass traditional advertising restrictions.
