Ukraine crackdown: 33 TikTok accounts blocked for illegal gambling promotions

Ukrainian authorities have blocked 33 TikTok accounts accused of promoting illegal gambling activity and are reviewing at least 20 more, according to an official report from the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

The disabled pages had a combined audience of roughly 365,000 users, while those currently under review reach more than 625,000.

The action emerges from a coordinated effort between the Ministry and private monitoring company PlayCity, which tracks unlicensed gambling activity across digital platforms. A spokesperson for the company said the partnership had created "an effective tool to counter TikTok accounts that violate the law," noting that additional accounts remain under platform review.

PlayCity's monitoring system continuously scans social networks, streaming services and video platforms for unauthorised gambling advertising. The cooperation with state authorities marks a growing emphasis on regulating gaming promotion in digital spaces and curbing content targeting minors or unverified users.

Under Ukrainian law, only licensed operators are permitted to advertise gambling services and all promotional activity by unlicensed providers is prohibited. Enforcement, however, has faced challenges as gambling promotion increasingly shifts to social media and influencer-driven content.

The blocked TikTok pages allegedly published short video clips containing gambling references, website links and interactive content encouraging engagement. Analysts note that the case reflects broader global challenges in digital compliance, particularly in ensuring that age-verification, licensing and advertising rules apply consistently across jurisdictions.

Officials indicated that the Ministry may expand its cooperation with social-media platforms to obtain data, extend monitoring periods and implement geo-blocking measures aimed at preventing the dissemination of illicit gambling content.