Ukrainians are still putting their money in the hands of russian bookmakers

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 during the whole of last year. Since the regulator began operating, more than 9,500 such resources have been identified in total, while the time required to block a website after the relevant data is submitted to the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Electronic Communications and Radio Frequency Spectrum (NCEC) has been reduced to just one day. This is a tangible result, and it deserves to be acknowledged.

But the number of blocked websites should not create the illusion of victory. An illegal operator does not disappear when a domain is blocked, it simply launches a new mirror site, changes its web address and continues accepting bets. That is why the fight against illegal operators cannot be a campaign or a one-off initiative. It must be continuous, systematic and faster than the people profiting from the illegal market can create new mirror sites.

There is something even more troubling. Despite all the awareness campaigns, fines imposed on bloggers and warnings from the regulator, a significant number of Ukrainians continue to gamble on Russian websites. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, people are sending money to entities linked to the aggressor state, often without even considering where their deposits are actually going.

A telling example is 1xBet. Sanctions were imposed by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council in 2023 against a company linked to the brand. Public sources identify Russian citizens as the brand's founders, while criminal proceedings are ongoing in Ukraine over the illegal organization of gambling and the transfer of players' funds abroad. 1xBet is not a licensed gambling operator in Ukraine. Nevertheless, its mirror websites remain active, and Ukrainians continue to use them. The result is entirely predictable: in September, players have been filing complaints en masse, reporting that deposits go through without any problems, while withdrawals take days; promised VIP cashback remains “under technical maintenance” for weeks; and customer support responds with generic explanations. Such platforms are always ready to take your money, but not necessarily to return it.

The problem is that Ukrainian consumers still lack a well-established culture of verification. Before buying electronics from an online store, we read reviews and check the seller. Yet before placing a bet, few people check whether a website holds a Ukrainian gambling licence, whether it is listed in the state register, or who actually stands behind the brand. A flashy banner, a generous bonus and advertising on social media often matter more to a player than the operator's legal status. And that is precisely what illegal operators build their business models around.

The response, therefore, needs to be twofold. On the one hand, blocking measures must become even faster and more stringent, including action against mirror sites, payment infrastructure and advertising for illegal casinos on social media platforms and messaging services. On the other hand, there needs to be far more public awareness work: people should be given clear, straightforward explanations of how to verify a licence, what risks they face when using an illegal gambling website, and why they may have no effective protection if something goes wrong. Without the second element, the first will always amount to little more than firefighting.

And most importantly, Russian gambling websites are not merely a consumer protection issue. They are a matter of national security. Every hryvnia deposited on such a platform leaves the Ukrainian economy, generates no tax revenue for the Ukrainian budget and potentially benefits a country that is waging war against Ukraine. These websites also gain access to Ukrainians' personal data along with their money. The fight against Russian illegal gambling should therefore be treated with the same seriousness as any other threat to the security of the state.