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(AsiaGameHub) – Ukraine’s gambling regulatory body, PlayCity, unveiled a new online complaint system aimed at speeding up public reports of illegal gambling ads, the agency stated on Thursday.
The online tool enables users to report potential violations across multiple channels, including social media platforms, websites, TV, radio, outdoor ads, and other public spaces.
PlayCity took on the role of the official state agency overseeing gambling and lotteries after policy functions were transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Its forerunner, the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), was shut down in April 2024—this came after the regulator repeatedly failed to issue gambling licenses promptly.
How does the tool work?
Those filing complaints need to indicate the type of platform, provide a direct link to the ad, and upload supporting proof like screenshots or videos.
Notably, the system automatically stores submitted content and is designed to capture and save temporary ad materials—like social media “stories”—at the moment of submission.
This lets regulators examine content even after it’s been taken down or expired.
Once submitted, complaints are first reviewed by PlayCity’s team to check if the reported material breaks Ukraine’s gambling advertising rules.
In cases where ads are found to be illegal, the regulator will take the following steps:
- Ask major digital platforms (including Meta, Google, TikTok, YouTube, Viber, and Twitch) to remove the content.
- Block social media pages that repeatedly share illegal gambling ads.
- Issue fines to identified responsible parties, or refer unresolved cases to law enforcement if identities can’t be verified via official state records.
The statutory administrative penalty for illegal gambling ads in 2026 is fixed at UAH5,188,200 (equivalent to $118,069).
Ukraine’s ongoing enforcement
Tougher enforcement against illegal gambling ads was rolled out under Law No.9526d—the same legislation that dissolved KRAIL.
The launch of the online complaint tool is part of PlayCity’s ongoing digitalization initiatives to boost regulatory supervision in Ukraine’s gambling industry. Since it was set up 11 months ago, the regulator says it has imposed nearly UAH80 million in fines for illegal gambling ads, and blocked over 500 social media pages sharing forbidden content.
These enforcement numbers reflect a wider tightening of Ukraine’s regulatory framework after gambling was legalized in 2020.
PlayCity recently started overseeing an automated system that blocks military personnel from accessing online gambling services. Launched by Ukraine’s Ministries of Digital Transformation and Defence in March, this system aims to reduce problem gambling among service members during the current martial law period.
The complaint form is now live and accessible to all Ukrainian citizens via the PlayCity website. It allows the public to actively contribute to monitoring and regulating illegal gambling ads.
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