Russia Exploits Online Gambling to Extract Funds from Occupied Ukrainian Regions
Russia Using Online Gambling as a Revenue Source in Occupied Ukrainian Areas
Reports from the National Resistance Center (NRC) highlight Russia’s growing reliance on online gambling platforms as a method to generate income within the territories of Ukraine currently under occupation. These online casinos serve as part of a wider scheme intended to deplete financial resources from these regions and redirect the money back to Moscow. Elsewhere in Ukraine, illegal gambling activities continue to present significant challenges for authorities.
Online Gambling Facilitates Hidden Financial Transfers
While Russia presents its gambling initiatives as measures of economic regulation, analysts from Ukraine suggest the reality is far more concerning. In areas devastated by war, displacement, and sanctions, where traditional economies have collapsed, online gambling emerges as an expedient and discreet tool to extract wealth from local populations.
The National Resistance Center details that this operation receives strong political backing and falls under the supervision of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. These financial movements are administered by entities linked to Russia’s finance ministry and coordinated with the Kremlin, including Sergey Kiriyenko, who manages affairs related to the occupied regions.
Within these territories, online gambling sites are either newly launched Russian ventures or rebranded platforms operating via domestic payment channels. This setup allows Russian authorities to monitor activities closely while evading international financial oversight. Approximately 30% of generated income is reportedly diverted, partly supporting the shadow budgets of occupation administrations, and the remainder is transferred directly to Russia.
Illegal Gambling Operators Pose Wider Risks
Experts indicate that such operations aim to create “grey revenue” streams that help alleviate the pressure of Western sanctions on Russia. Gambling is particularly well-suited for this purpose due to its ease of online deployment, complexity in cross-border regulation, and ability to generate consistent income even in economically damaged regions, particularly when operators sidestep responsible gambling norms.
Beyond occupied zones, Ukrainian officials report that Russian-controlled online casinos intentionally target financially vulnerable Ukrainian households affected by the ongoing conflict. In response, the government has established a new regulatory body, PlayCity, dedicated to overseeing gambling activities and enforcing stringent controls over related social media content.
In September 2025, PlayCity disclosed that social media platforms are primary channels for promoting illicit gambling. The regulator has successfully shut down numerous Instagram accounts distributing unlicensed gambling advertisements, directing users towards unauthorized websites. Ukrainian authorities suspect that most of these sites are linked to Russian interests, meaning that bets placed by Ukrainian gamblers could inadvertently support the war effort against their own country.
