A major enforcement operation has exposed a network in Ukraine that generated an estimated UAH 5bn ($113.3m) in turnover.
The organisers ran at least five online gambling sites, some of which had previously held licences but continued operating after those licences were revoked. Rather than shutting down, the operators created mirror sites under the same names.
Ukrainian law enforcement authorities, including the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Bureau of Economic Security and the Security Service of Ukraine, uncovered the scheme that relied on digital infrastructure and international financial channels to operate for years.
At the centre of the operation were two Russian nationals who coordinated the business with the support of a Ukrainian accomplice and several other local participants.
The financial structure of the network was built for both efficiency and discretion. Players placed bets using cryptocurrency, enabling fast and less traceable transactions.
Funds were first channelled through accounts linked to a fictitious company registered in Estonia, before being moved to offshore accounts controlled by the group.
This layered approach allowed the organisers to obscure the origin of the funds and launder substantial sums generated through illegal gambling activities.
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.
PlayCity has also begun cooperation with YouTube to block illegal gambling advertising.
Ukraine has launched a national study on gambling’s impact on society, with final results due in August 2026
