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PlayCity fines operator UAH 4.3m after self-excluded player allowed to continue gambling

With potential plans to restrict military personnel from gambling, PlayCity is taking responsible gambling breaches more seriously than ever.

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Key Points
PlayCity has fined Pati Planet after banned players could still access the website
The player was on the Registry of Restricted Persons
The country is still considering banning military personnel from gambling

PlayCity, the Ukrainian Gambling Authority, has issued a fine of UAH 4.3m (US$98,417.58) to Pati Planet LLC. 

An investigation from PlayCity found that a player was able to continue playing at the online casino despite being on the self-exclusion register.

PlayCity launched its new responsible gambling section of the website last month, containing information, self-assessments and a self-exclusion register.

Gennadiy Novikov, PlayCity Head, said: “The ability to ban persons who have consciously chosen to self-restrain, or are restricted by other factors, is the basic standard of a responsible legal market. This is not formality, but a key element of protection against the risks of developing gaming addiction.

“If organisers ignore this demand, it's a signal to the entire industry. They need to honestly identify players, check them in the Registry and guarantee to players and the state that the restrictions actually work.

“The responsible market isn't just about licenses and taxes. It's about trust and rules that are followed.”

Ukraine is also currently deliberating whether to automatically ban military personnel from gambling, citing concerns about problem gambling and security risks. 

The military personnel register would act in a similar way to the self-exclusion register, in that operators would receive a notification that this user should not be allowed to access the website or gambling services offered. 

However, in the interest of national security, operators would not be told whether the hit came from the self-exclusion register or the military personnel register.

Novikov continued: “At the same time, it is important to understand that such protection mechanisms only operate in the legal sector of the market. 

“Unlicensed organisers do not identify players before a game, ignore restrictions, do not follow game limits and do not hold any responsibility for players.”

Good to know

PlayCity recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the reformed gambling and lottery market in Ukraine

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