PlayCity blocked 2,500 illegal casinos in six months

The PlayCity regulator blocked 2,500 illegal online casinos and apps during its first six months of operation, collected more than ₴1.4 billion in license fees, and issued fines to operators and advertisers.

Key results for the first six months

• Blocking: about 2,500 illegal casino websites and applications were blocked.

• License fees: the state received more than ₴1.4 billion in licensing payments.

• Fines for operators: fines totaling ₴13.6 million were issued for reporting violations.

• Fines for advertising: more than ₴52 million in fines were imposed on influencers and media for illegal advertising; over 280 social media pages were removed.

Joint steps with the Ministry of Digital Transformation

Together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the regulator relaunched the regulation of the gambling and lottery sector. As a result, key decisions were adopted and new mechanisms for control and player protection were introduced.

Adopted measures and updates

1. New responsible gaming standards and updated licensing conditions.

2. Early detection tools and prevention of gambling addiction.

3. Market cleanup: blocking illegal websites and apps, removing illegal advertising, increasing operator accountability, and revoking licenses due to ties with russia.

4. Resumption of license issuance, which expanded the legal market and increased budget revenues.

Technical and administrative tools

The following mechanisms have been launched and are under development to ensure systematic action against the illegal market:

• Illegal website tracking system for monitoring domains and applications.

• New gambling addiction registry for early identification of problem players.

• Development of the DSOM, which will strengthen control over operators.

Impact on the market and the state budget

The resumption of licensing and the cleanup of the market led to growth in the legal segment and an increase in state budget revenues through license fees and taxes. According to the regulator, these revenues significantly replenished public finances during the reporting period.

Action plan for the next period

The regulator stated that the DSOM will be launched next year, the fight against the illegal market will continue, and additional responsible gaming tools will be introduced. Further expansion of transparency and oversight mechanisms across the sector is also planned.

Legal framework and responsibility

The regulator emphasizes that all actions are carried out within the existing legal framework and are aimed at ensuring compliance with licensing requirements, market transparency, and the protection of player interests.