Ukraine Increases Efforts to Combat Illegal Gambling

Ukraine’s Strengthened Regulations Against Illegal Gambling

Amid ongoing conflict from the eastern regions, Ukraine is intensifying its crackdown on unlawful gambling activities. The country has overhauled its regulatory body by dissolving the former authority, KRAIL, and establishing a new agency called PlayCity to enforce gambling laws more effectively.

PlayCity Targets Illegal Gambling Promotion on Social Media

In addition to regulatory changes, Ukraine has implemented a real-time monitoring system to oversee gambling transactions. PlayCity is actively scrutinizing social media platforms where illegal gambling is increasingly advertised and promoted.

Many of these unauthorized gambling operations are believed to have connections to the Russian Federation. Ukrainian authorities are concerned these sites siphon money from citizens to support Russia’s military activities. PlayCity announced via their Telegram channel that they have taken measures against Instagram accounts facilitating illegal gambling advertisements.

Blocking Influencers and Manipulative Advertising

Among the accounts blocked were well-known influencers such as Kolia Zalipukha and Olia Filova, along with twenty other popular content creators who encouraged participation in online casinos. PlayCity highlighted that some of these influencers staged fake gambling wins to lure people into playing, which is considered manipulative advertising.

The agency has suspended these accounts to protect players and uphold legal standards, emphasizing that deceptive gambling promotions violate the law. PlayCity’s primary goal remains to ensure a secure and fair environment for all gambling participants in Ukraine.