Ukraine’s newly established gambling regulator, PlayCity, has unveiled a real-time website tracking and blocking tool aimed at cracking down on unlicensed online casinos.
Per a statement issued via Telegram by the Ministry of Digital Development, the software empowers regulators to swiftly identify whether an operator holds a valid licence. It also enables any Ukrainian government official—or even members of the public—to report suspicious sites and file complaints against internet service providers that fail to block blacklisted domains.
The system doubles as a searchable database of known illegal casino sites, designed to cut off attempts by shady operators to dodge regulation by shifting URLs or launching mirror platforms. Accessible to the public, it carries the promise of increased transparency in a market long characterised by uncertainty.
PlayCity’s launch comes amid a concerted effort to dismantle Ukraine’s shadow gambling economy. Since June, officials have blacklisted more than 1,300 unlawful online casinos, frequently implicated in speculative operations benefiting Russia-linked entities. The crackdown has seen authorities disable sites, freeze payments, and disrupt infrastructure tied to offshore operators.
At a recent conference convened by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, collaboration across agencies—including PlayCity, SBU, and industry representatives—was reaffirmed. Law enforcement and regulatory bodies have committed to coordinated information sharing and legislative reform to restore integrity to the gambling market
According to Ukrainian legislation, the new PlayCity regulator is to act as a “central body of executive power that ensures the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of organisation and conduct of gambling and lottery activities, as well as an authorised body within the limits of its powers defined by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine”.
