The Ukrainian regulator, PlayCity, has established collaboration with the streaming platform Kick to address illegal gambling advertising.
PlayCity started sending the list of channels violating the law directly to the Kick office. In the past week, the first two channels identified as violators have already been blocked.
The regulator also collaborates with other leading digital platforms, including Meta, Google, TikTok, YouTube, Viber and Twitch. This cooperation facilitates the rapid removal of illegal content and helps limit its spread.
Additionally, the regulators' dedicated online tool allows citizens to report illegal gambling advertisements.
A report by international research company Kantar, presented by the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Business Operators (AUOGB), estimated that Ukraine’s illegal online gambling market is growing and now exceeds UAH 61.6bn ($1.39bn) per year.
PlayCity recently reported on its first year of activity as Ukraine's gambling regulator. Enforcement was a central focus of the regulator's first year.
It has blocked more than 4,100 illegal gambling websites, developed a dedicated tracking system for unauthorised platforms and expanded cooperation with law enforcement agencies and other government bodies.
In a separate development from the country, last week, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers issued a resolution prohibiting military personnel from engaging in gambling. The head of PlayCity, Genandy Novikov, reported this on social media.
Furthermore, last month, the Ministry of Digital Transformation linked gambling to wartime national security risk.
The ministry said that during the war, problem gambling has become not only a social and medical issue but also a factor contributing to financial and psychological vulnerability among citizens, increasing exposure to manipulation during wartime.
PlayCity reported that it blocked over 700 social media accounts in its first year of operation, which were used to promote illegal gambling activities
