A study by Kantar Ukraine, commissioned by the Association of Gambling Business Operators, estimates that 55.4% of gambling spending in Ukraine goes to illegal operators. This amounts to roughly UAH 60bn annually.
The findings are based on an online survey of 800 Ukrainian players aged 18–69.
Players mostly cited faster payouts (46%), convenience (45%) and better bonuses (33%) as the main reasons for choosing them.
The study found that mobile apps remain the main channels for online gambling, particularly popular for slots and poker, while messengers are commonly used for lotteries and also poker.
Taxation is another key factor driving players towards illegal operators, with 22% citing full payouts without tax deductions as a reason for their appeal.
In a separate development in Ukraine, regulator PlayCity fined Slots UA a total of UAH 4.7m for violating gambling legislation. The operator runs two brands, namely Betking and 777.
Following the inspection, the regulator identified two violations that resulted in financial penalties. The regulator thus fined the operator UAH 4.34m for allowing third parties to deposit funds into players' gaming accounts and UAH 423,350 for failing to comply with an order to rectify previous violations.
Earlier this month, PlayCity also fined UAF Marketing almost UAH 5.2m for breaching gambling advertising requirements while promoting an online casino as title sponsor of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Cup.
The enforcement action concerns Beton, which became the competition's title sponsor in July. The Ukrainian Football Association has subsequently referred to the tournament as the Beton Cup of Ukraine across its official channels.
Late last month, Ukraine introduced new cybersecurity standards for gambling operators
