This year, the state has significantly stepped up its efforts to combat the illegal gambling market. Since the beginning of 2026 alone, the PlayCity agency has referred 6,668 illegal gambling websites for blocking — more than twice as many as throughout the entire previous year. Overall, since the regulator began its work, more than 9,500 such resources have been identified for blocking, while the time required to block them after the data is submitted to the National Commiss

When the Dutch government raised the gambling tax rate from 30.5% to 37.8% in 2025–2026, the rationale seemed straightforward: a higher tax rate would generate more revenue for the state budget. However, a joint monitoring report by the Ministry of Finance and the local regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, published in June 2026, told a different story: actual budget revenues turned out to be tens of percent lower than expected. A detailed analysis of the report suggests that t

Google has introduced a new gambling advertising certification system, a move that could significantly change the rules of the game in the online gambling market, including in Ukraine. As of August 26, applications to run gambling-related advertisements can only be submitted through a new dedicated form. At the same time, the platform is now conducting much more thorough checks to determine whether the information provided in an application matches the data published on the a

The PlayCity regulator has signed an agreement with Kitsoft to develop the second phase of the State Online Gambling Monitoring System (SOMS). The move marks a qualitative new stage in the system’s development — shifting from tracking individual financial transactions to building a comprehensive picture of how the licensed gambling industry actually operates in Ukraine, writes Anton Kuchukhidze, head of the Ukrainian Gambling Council, in his column. Read more

Illegal online betting has traditionally been associated with players using unlicensed websites to bypass regulations, avoid identity verification, or access more attractive betting conditions. However, a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presents a much broader and more concerning reality. Read more

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has significantly stepped up its efforts to combat the shadow gambling sector, particularly in the online segment. The gambling market regulator, PlayCity, has referred more than 6,600 illegal websites for blocking — more than twice the number recorded throughout the entire previous year. This is undoubtedly a positive trend that gives hope that illegal operators will gradually lose ground, while the legal sector will finally have an o

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has significantly stepped up its efforts to crack down on the shadow gambling sector, particularly in the online segment. The gambling market regulator, PlayCity, has referred more than 6,600 illegal websites for blocking — more than twice the number recorded throughout the entire previous year. This is undoubtedly a positive trend that gives hope that illegal operators will continue to lose ground, while the legal sector will finally

We are used to viewing the gambling market through the lens of traditional forms of gambling — casinos, slot machines, betting, and lotteries. Each of these segments has both offline and online components, which are subject to regulation by the relevant legislation and supervisory authorities. However, technological development is giving rise to new forms of gambling that often come to regulators’ attention only after they have effectively evolved into a separate gray market.

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 incidents of abuse, but to a systemic transformation in the nature of the threats faced by online gambling operators. Read more

Recently, PlayCity published the first results of a large-scale study on gambling behavior. The survey included 3,164 respondents aged 18 and older. Particular attention was given to examining so-called "at-risk groups," including young people, military personnel, and socially vulnerable populations. The findings proved to be both interesting and encouraging, especially compared to the claims repeatedly made by critics of gambling reform. The study found that public participa

Recently, PlayCity published the first results of a large-scale study on gambling behavior. The study involved 3,164 respondents aged 18 and older. Particular attention was paid to examining so-called “at-risk groups” - including young people, military personnel, and socially vulnerable populations. The findings proved to be quite interesting and encouraging, especially when compared with the narratives repeatedly promoted by critics of gambling reform. Read more

AI tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, finding their way into virtually every aspect of modern society. AI-powered assistants help us with work, online shopping, and even parenting. However, despite their power and versatility, global AI platforms are not always able to fully meet the specific needs of users in individual countries. Read more

AI tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, finding their way into virtually every area of human activity. Artificial intelligence-based assistants help us with work, online shopping, and even parenting. However, despite their power and versatility, global AI platforms are not always able to fully address the specific needs of users in a particular country. To achieve this, these models need to be “trained” to understand local contexts and “tailored” to the legi

У країні, яка продовжує функціонувати в умовах воєнного стану, уряд надав пріоритет прозорості, цифровізації та посиленню нагляду в секторах, які тривалий час характеризувалися наявністю регуляторних прогалин. У цей період PlayCity не лише вдалося створити ефективну систему ліцензування, а й закласти основу для більш передбачуваного та керованого ринкового середовища. Детальніше

PlayCity’s first year of operation marked an important milestone for Ukraine’s gambling and lottery market. As the country continues to navigate the challenges of wartime, the government has prioritized transparency, digitalization, and stronger oversight in sectors that were previously characterized by significant regulatory grey areas. Over the past year, PlayCity has not only established an effective licensing system but also laid the foundation for a more predictable, tra

A new study from Gaming Compliance International highlights the staggering size of the global unregulated gambling economy, estimating annual betting turnover at USD 5.9 trillion. The report underscores the rapid rise of “disguised gambling” products - such as social casinos, prediction markets, skin trading platforms, and influencer-led competitions—which mimic traditional gambling mechanics while operating outside most regulatory frameworks, creating significant challenges

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

The legalization of the gambling industry has turned gambling into a significant source of government revenue. Last year alone, the sector contributed more than UAH 17 billion in tax payments. However, these billions represent only the tip of the iceberg, as the regulated market currently accounts for just 20% of the industry. The remaining 80% operates on the black market, allowing billions in potential tax revenue to bypass the state budget every year. Read more

The transfer of gambling market regulation under the authority of 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 also help more effectively monitor gambling behavior and prevent the spread of gambling addiction, writes Anton Kuchukhidze, Chairman of the Ukrainian Gambling Council

The transfer of gambling market regulation under the authority of the Ministry of Digital Transformation has sparked 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 also help more effectively monitor gambling behavior and prevent the spread of gambling addiction. Read more