More bad news for illegal operators. Google has introduced a new gambling advertising certification system, and this decision could significantly change the rules of the game in the online gambling market, including in Ukraine. Since August 26, applications to run gambling advertisements can only be submitted through a new dedicated form, while the platform is now much more thorough in checking whether the information provided in an application matches the data published on t

PlayCity, Ukraine’s gambling regulator, has signed an agreement with Kitsoft to develop the second stage of the State Online Gambling Monitoring System (SOMS). The move marks a qualitative shift in the system’s capabilities — from recording individual financial transactions to building a comprehensive picture of how the licensed gambling industry actually operates in Ukraine. The first stage of SOMS was launched in test mode in April 2026. It collects data on financial transa

Ukraine is gradually developing its own legal framework for artificial intelligence, and this process is increasingly having implications for the gambling industry as well. This is not simply an abstract technological reform; it is about establishing the rules under which algorithms will operate tomorrow, algorithms that analyze player behavior, personalize offers, and determine who should be targeted with advertising and who should be subject to restrictions. I have previous

The state agency PlayCity, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, has published the results of the second stage of a study into the impact of gambling on society. While the first stage surveyed the Ukrainian population as a whole, the second stage focused specifically on gamblers. This approach provided a more accurate picture of why people start gambling, how often they play, how much control they have over the activity, and what motivates them to g

Ukrainian internet service providers have once again, at the regulator’s request, restricted access to hundreds of websites offering illegal gambling services. However, the figure of “475 websites” alone says little until one looks at what exactly makes up this list. It is not a random collection of individual casinos, but rather an extensive network of mirrors and technical addresses built around several well-known brands. This is the defining feature of modern shadow gambli

When it comes to illegal online gambling, the familiar image is that of a player visiting an unlicensed website to bypass restrictions, avoid identity verification, or gain access to more favorable terms. However, a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia paints a very different picture. Illegal betting is no longer simply a matter of individual players or operators breaking the rules. It has evolve

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has significantly intensified its crackdown on the shadow gambling sector, particularly in the online segment. The gambling regulator, PlayCity, has submitted more than 6,600 illegal websites for blocking - more than double the total number recorded throughout the previous year. This is undoubtedly a positive trend, offering hope that illegal operators will continue to lose ground while the licensed sector will finally have the opportu

We have become accustomed to viewing the gambling industry through the lens of its traditional verticals - casinos, slot machines, sports betting, and lotteries. Each of these sectors has both land-based and online segments that are subject to dedicated legislation and regulatory oversight. However, technological innovation continues to give rise to new forms of gambling, which often attract the attention of regulators only after they have already evolved into substantial gra

Although gambling addiction is not a large-scale problem for the Ukrainian gambling market - accounting for only 0.5–1% of players - it cannot be ignored. Following the launch of the new market regulator, PlayCity, a strategy for preventing gambling addiction until 2035 was introduced. It aims to unify the efforts of the state and the private sector in combating gambling addiction and increase their effectiveness. The first year of operation of the state agency PlayCity has c

The online gambling industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge in fraudulent activity. Over the past year, the volume of suspicious transactions in the iGaming sector has increased 4.5-fold, while the average value of such transactions has nearly doubled from approximately $4,000 to $6,500. These figures point not to isolated cases of abuse but to a fundamental shift in the nature of the threats facing online gambling operators. Overall fraud levels have reached 1.53% of

PlayCity has recently released the first findings of its large-scale study on gambling behavior in Ukraine. The survey included 3,164 respondents aged 18 and above, with particular attention paid to so-called "at-risk groups," including young people, military personnel, and socially vulnerable populations. The results proved both interesting and encouraging, especially when compared to the narratives consistently promoted by critics of Ukraine's gambling reform. Public partic

AI tools have become an integral part of our daily lives and have permeated virtually every sphere of human activity. Artificial intelligence-powered assistants help us at work, with online shopping, and even with raising children. However, despite their power and versatility, global AI platforms are not always able to fully meet the needs of users within a specific country. To do so, these models must be taught to understand the local context and be tailored to the legislati

The first year of PlayCity's operations marked an important milestone for Ukraine’s gambling and lottery market. In a country that continues to operate under wartime conditions, the government has prioritized transparency, digitalization, and stronger oversight in sectors that had long been characterized by regulatory gray areas. During this period, PlayCity not only managed to establish an effective licensing framework but also laid the foundation for a more predictable and

Tax and licensing revenues generated by the gambling industry undoubtedly cannot compete with the taxes and other payments contributed by more powerful sectors of the economy. Nevertheless, the sector generates billions in state budget revenues that can be used to finance various public needs, including defense expenditures. Recently, the government adopted a relevant decision and allocated UAH 10.8 billion generated by the gambling sector to military needs. The government's

Combating the illegal gambling sector has become one of the key priorities for all developed countries where gambling is legal. Regulatory measures typically focus on technical solutions such as blocking illegal websites and platforms, prohibiting unlawful advertising and strengthening player protection requirements. However, despite these efforts, illegal operators continue to function and thrive. As a result, regulatory initiatives are increasingly shifting toward monitorin

Recently, Gaming Compliance International published its report, GCI Online Gaming 2025: Global, on the global unregulated gambling market. According to the company’s estimates, the scale of the market is truly staggering, even by global economic standards, reaching an annual betting turnover of USD 5.9 trillion. This figure exceeds the combined budgets of many European countries and is surpassed only by the economies of the United States and China. Importantly, this includes

In professional discussions around gambling, artificial intelligence (AI) is often reduced to the role of a supporting tool, from customer support chatbots to marketing content generation and basic game recommendation systems. While important, this is merely an entry-level application that does little to fundamentally alter either a company’s cost structure or its resilience to growing regulatory and tax pressure. For markets such as Ukraine, where oversight is intensifying a

PlayCity continues to test innovative approaches aimed at addressing pressing issues in the gambling sector. This time, the regulator has introduced an interesting new approach to combating illegal gambling advertising. To support this effort, an online tool for submitting complaints has been created. Thanks to this tool, every concerned citizen can now join the fight against intrusive gambling advertisements. The introduction of an accessible and user-friendly complaint subm

The transfer of gambling market regulation to the Ministry of Digital Transformation has driven a number of trends in the industry. One of the most significant is the digitalization of interaction processes between the regulator, gambling operators, and players. In addition, such innovations help more effectively track player behavior and prevent the spread of gambling addiction. The Committee on Digital Transformation has finally presented a working version of the first phas

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and PlayCity have launched digital licensing for the gambling business through the Diia portal. Applications for land-based and online casinos, bookmaking activities, slot machine halls, poker, and B2B services can now be submitted online using a qualified electronic signature (QES). The system automatically retrieves data about companies and beneficiaries from state registries, application status can be tracked in a personal account, an