The Ukrainian authorities have uncovered a large-scale illegal gambling network, with total transactions estimated at around UAH 141m.
The group operated illegal casinos under Dragons Gold, Slotoland and Rino brands.
Law enforcement agencies conducted 10 location searches and charged five suspects. One of the perpetrators remained in custody, with the option to post bail of around UAH 5m.
The investigators are working to identify all individuals involved in the organisation, financing and operation of this network.
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 per year.
Earlier this week, the Ukrainian regulator, PlayCity, announced it had established a collaboration with the streaming platform Kick to address illegal gambling advertising.
PlayCity began sending the list of channels that were violating the law directly to the Kick office. 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.
Additionally, the regulators' dedicated online tool allows citizens to report illegal gambling advertisements.
The tool stores submitted evidence and captures disappearing content such as social media stories, while the regulator works with major digital platforms and law enforcement to speed up removal.
In 2025, PlayCity, in cooperation with law enforcement, successfully blocked 3,500 illegal sites and suspended 500 social media accounts linked to illegal gambling.
The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution banning military personnel from gambling
