The Ukrainian regulator PlayCity has begun cooperation with YouTube to block illegal gambling advertising.
According to the regulator’s official Telegram post, the first results include the blocking of a YouTube channel advertising gambling with over 3,000 subscribers.
YouTube also removed a video containing illegal casino advertising from a channel with more than 133,000 subscribers.
“We continue systematic work to clean up the information space from illegal gambling advertising,” the regulator noted.
In January, the regulator reported that TikTok recorded the highest number of illegal gambling advertising cases during the month, with 80 accounts submitted to the platform for blocking.
In 2025, PlayCity, together with law enforcement, launched a large-scale campaign against illegal gambling.
Over the year, they have successfully blocked 3,500 illegal sites and suspended 500 social media accounts linked to unlicensed gambling. Furthermore, the regulator fined 16 influencers for unlawful promotion of gambling.
Beyond targeting illegal gambling, the regulator is cracking down on unlawful practices in the licensed market while also aiming to improve transparency in the sector.
Last week, PlayCity fined FC Shakhtar more than UAH 5m ($115,100) for gambling advertising breaches.
The violation involved a promotional post featuring images of individuals under 21 alongside branding from a licensed gambling operator, which is not permitted under current regulations.
The first phase of the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS) for gambling has also been launched in a test environment.
The platform aims to ensure that tax authorities have access to all transaction records used to calculate gross gaming revenue and apply relevant taxes.
Ukraine is considering a ban on gambling for military personnel
