Ukrainian Regulator Teams Up with YouTube to Remove Illegal Gambling Ads
Ukraine’s gambling regulator, PlayCity, has taken a significant step in its fight against illegal gambling advertising by teaming up with YouTube. The collaboration has already yielded tangible results, including the removal of a gambling channel with over 3,000 subscribers and the deletion of a casino-promotional video from a channel boasting more than 133,000 subscribers.
This partnership marks a strategic move in Ukraine’s broader effort to clamp down on unlicensed gambling activities and unlawful advertising practices. PlayCity’s efforts extend beyond YouTube, targeting illegal websites, social media accounts, and promotional activities within the licensed market. Additionally, the regulator has introduced a new system to monitor gambling transactions more effectively.
In the initial phase of this cooperation, the focus was on removing gambling content that promoted unlicensed operators. PlayCity announced that YouTube has already taken action by blocking one dedicated gambling channel and removing a video that promoted illegal casino activities from a much larger channel. The channel with over 133,000 subscribers was among those targeted, alongside a smaller gambling channel with over 3,000 followers. These early successes demonstrate the regulator’s expanding reach beyond websites and social media to include video platforms.
Since 2025, PlayCity has been intensifying its crackdown on illegal gambling in partnership with law enforcement agencies. Over the past year alone, the campaign has resulted in the blocking of 3,500 illegal websites and the suspension of 500 social media accounts linked to unlicensed gambling activities.
The enforcement efforts are not limited to Ukraine’s borders. In January, PlayCity reported that TikTok identified 80 accounts involved in illegal gambling advertising, which were subsequently submitted for removal. The regulator has also taken action against individual promoters, fining 16 influencers for unlawful gambling promotion.
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The crackdown also targets violations within the licensed sector. Recently, PlayCity fined FC Shakhtar more than UAH 5 million for breaching advertising rules, specifically for a promotional post featuring people under 21 alongside branding from a licensed gambling operator, something Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits.
Ukraine has also launched the initial phase of its State Online Monitoring System, currently in a testing environment. This platform aims to provide tax authorities with access to transaction records used to determine gross gaming revenue, a key industry metric. PlayCity presents this system as part of its effort to increase transparency in the gambling market. The regulator is also contemplating additional restrictions, such as a potential ban on gambling activities for military personnel.
