PlayCity introduces digital platform for public complaints

(AsiaGameHub) –   The new system allows the public to report illegal gambling advertisements to PlayCity.

Ukraine – The Ukrainian gambling regulator, PlayCity, has launched a new digital complaints platform designed to make it easier for the public to report illegal gambling advertisements. The online complaint form is now available in the ‘For Citizens’ section of PlayCity’s website, providing Ukrainian citizens with a direct way to help monitor and prevent illegal gambling advertising.

The system enables individuals to report suspected violations across various platforms, including social media, websites, television, radio, outdoor billboards, and other public spaces. Users submitting a complaint must specify the type of platform, provide a direct link to the advertisement, and include supporting evidence such as screenshots or video clips.

The platform is engineered to automatically save submissions and capture temporary content like social media “stories,” allowing regulators to review material even after it has been removed. PlayCity staff will review each complaint to determine whether the content violates Ukraine’s advertising regulations.

If violations are confirmed, the regulator can request that platforms such as Meta, Google, TikTok, YouTube, Viber, and Twitch remove the content. PlayCity may also seek to suspend social media accounts that repeatedly share unlawful gambling promotions, impose fines on responsible parties, or refer cases to law enforcement when identities cannot be verified.

The statutory penalty for illegal gambling advertising is set at UAH 5,188,200 (approximately €100,900).

This new enforcement framework stems from Law No.9526d, the legislation that replaced the previous gambling regulator KRAIL. After the Ministry of Digital Transformation took over regulatory responsibilities last year, PlayCity assumed oversight of gambling and lottery operations. The regulator states that it has already issued nearly UAH 80 million in fines and blocked more than 500 social media pages associated with prohibited gambling content.

In March, PlayCity began operating an automated system developed with the Ministries of Digital Transformation and Defence to block military personnel from accessing online gambling during martial law, aiming to reduce problem gambling risks among service members. Additionally, the regulator has introduced the new Diia portal, enabling online applications for gambling licenses in Ukraine, eliminating the need for paper documents or in-person visits.