Steve Hoare - Player Protection Hub

Brazil draft wants banks and fintechs directly involved in black market fight

Steve HoareSeptember 9, 20250144 views

The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil has tabled a proposal which would see banks and fintechs play a deeper role in the fight against the black market, and safeguard the existing laws of the Bets regime.

As reported by SBC Noticias Brasil, Bill 182/2025 was presented by Congressman José Guimarães, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, proposing to hold payment providers accountable for facilitating transactions related to illegal betting.

The proposal comes as Brazilian authorities continue to have concerns of the market’s transition from a grey to regulated status as of the 1 January adoption of the Bets regime.

Within the ranks of Congress and the Senate, anxieties have been expressed over the current vulnerabilities as illicit operators are deemed to be actively targeting users of the Bolsa Familia – Brazil’s national social welfare program.

The bill will require financial institutions to closely monitor customer accounts, flagging down payouts from bets made on illegal platforms and withholding a percentage which would then be paid back to the government. Failure to comply would result in fines or other penalties.

Guimarães outlined that this would not only diminish the profitability of illegal betting and therefore make it less appealing, but would also make it more traceable.

Brazilian news outlet O Globo further noted that based on Brazil’s Annual Budget Bill (PLOA), the draft bill will unlock around R$20bn (£2.7bn) in additional funding in 2026.

In his proposal, Guimarães stated that these funds will then be used to subsidise national health programmes, including prevention and treatment of gambling disorders.

“By jointly [making] financial and payment institutions responsible for facilitating transactions of unauthorised operators, the proposal creates an effective mechanism to block the financial flow of illicit activities and ensure the collection of taxes due,” the bill reads.

Additional provisions will ensure that those found guilty of promoting unlicensed gambling content will also face repercussions.

Response is overall positive
While the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Fedraban) confirmed that it fully supports any measures to reduce the influence of the black market, it also called for caution and asked for the bill to be carefully analysed to avoid any negative side effects.

The directive to directly monitor gambling deposits and transactions has received the backing of Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, who has been openly critical of the early developments in Brazil’s betting market.

Haddad previously instructed the federal police to investigate financial flows into licensed betting operators after the Central Bank reported suspicious activity. According to the Bank, in just one month, tax identification numbers linked to individual beneficiaries were used to channel more than R$3 billion into betting accounts.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) fully welcomed the draft by saying that cutting the financial flow of illegal operators will inevitably make them weaker.

“With the creation of legal mechanisms capable of interrupting this financial flow, it will be possible to weaken irregular activity and protect the bettor,” the ANJL said.

–

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

Virgin Media O2 warns of surge in gambling scam texts

Steve HoareSeptember 5, 20250144 views

Virgin Media O2 is urging its British audiences to be vigilant of ‘scam messages’ promoting offers and prizes related to gambling and other business sectors.

The UK’s second-largest telecoms provider, with over 47 million connections across mobile, broadband, TV and fixed line, has raised concern about criminal gangs using gambling-linked messages to target consumers with fraudulent offers.

Analysis by Virgin Media O2 shows that the most common scam texts currently blocked or reported involve gambling or fake prize promotions:

As cited: “The most commonly reported messages right now are gambling or fake prize scams in which fraudsters offer free ‘credit’ on gambling sites, ‘prizes’ or ‘rewards’ with a link to an unsafe website. The criminals encourage people to hand over personal details including bank information to claim their prize.”

Scams on the rise…

While gambling prize messages dominate, Virgin Media O2 has also identified several other fast-rising scam tactics:

Hi Mum / Hi Dad scams, where criminals impersonate children in distress and ask parents for urgent money transfers.
Fake parking fines, threatening licence loss unless immediate payments are made online.
Recruitment scams, advertising lucrative but fake jobs to extract fees or personal data.
Car finance compensation scams, convincing victims they are owed refunds in exchange for sensitive details.

British audiences are urged to forward suspicious texts to 7726 (spelling “SPAM” on a phone keypad) or use the “report junk” feature on newer iPhones. Virgin Media O2 stresses that reporting helps its systems learn faster, blocking more messages before they reach customers.

A record year of scam texts
So far in 2025, Virgin Media O2 has blocked more than 600 million scam messages from reaching its customers’ phones — more than double the combined total of 2023 and 2024. The company uses machine learning systems to identify spam patterns and adapts quickly as new tactics emerge.

Murray Mackenzie: Virgin Media 02
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Scammers aren’t sticking to old tricks; they’re evolving fast, tapping into trending news and targeting vulnerable people with fake prizes, job offers and financial compensation schemes. At Virgin Media O2 we’ve blocked more than 600 million scam texts already this year. By sounding the alarm, we’re helping spread the word and helping Brits swerve the scammers.”

He added: “With fraud continuing to increase, we’re reminding people to remain vigilant; always be cautious when receiving a call or text out of the blue, don’t share personal details, and report suspicious messages for free to 7726.”

Reformists want a tightening of clauses
2025 saw DCMS and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) impose new rules on direct marketing by operators. As of 1 May 2025, online gambling licences must ensure customers can opt-in by product type and preferred communication channel before receiving promotional offers.

The new rules aim to empower players with more control over the marketing they receive — and prevent them from being bombarded with unwanted offers.

Despite the changes, gambling reformists argue the measures do not go far enough. Campaigners have urged DCMS to revise the Gambling Review’s White Paper to include stronger protections on opt-in clauses and clearer rules on how licence-holders can engage with audiences.

The matter has been formally raised with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), calling for stricter oversight of data protection and valid consent to be applied in all gambling marketing.

UKGC’s pledge

Yesterday, Tim Miller, Executive Director of Policy at the Gambling Commission, addressed the forum of Peers for Gambling Reform (PGR). In his speech, Miller stressed that further reforms lie beyond the recommendations of the White Paper, which should not be viewed as an end point for gambling regulation in the UK.

The Commission, he noted, is governing an evolving gambling landscape, with priorities centred on licence accountability and consumer protection against the black market. Miller underlined that the UKGC welcomes dialogue, feedback and scrutiny to safeguard gambling consumers well beyond the implementation of the White Paper’s measures.

Government and Commission call for patience from reformers

Steve HoareSeptember 4, 20250362 views

At the Peers for Gambling Reform event in London, reformers continued to demand a new Gambling Act despite continued assurances that there has already been quite a lot of reform following the White Paper At the Peers for Gambling Reform event in London yesterday (September 4), Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller and the UK’s…

Brazil launches campaign to tackle overwhelming illegal gambling market

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250157 views

More than half of Brazil’s betting market is still being run by unlicensed operators, according to new figures from the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR).

The body has warned that since the market launch at the start of this year, this illegal activity has been leaving players exposed to fraud while draining potential tax revenue from the state.

To address the problem, IBJR has launched a new nationwide campaign, ‘No More Goats in the Room’, aiming to highlight the dangers of the black market and encourage bettors to stick with government-approved sites carrying the .bet.br domain.

Campaign brings issue into focus
The initiative is running across TV, radio, billboards and social channels until December. Its central theme – the “goat in the room” – is used to represent an obvious but often ignored problem, the organisation explained.

With 51% of the country’s betting market consisting of illegal operations, Fernando Vieira, Executive President of IBJR, said: “The goat in the room represents a problem that many see, but that needs to be addressed directly.

“Illegal betting is a risk for bettors, who have no one to turn to in case of fraud, and a loss for society, as it doesn’t generate taxes that would otherwise benefit the population.

“The campaign brings this discussion to the general public, promoting education and knowledge, and alerting people to ways to recognise platforms regulated by the Federal government and thus protect themselves from scams.”

Brazil’s nationwide betting market was launched on 1 January 2025 after years of legislative debate and development, with provisions around licensing, payments, player protection and sports integrity written in.

However, the market launch and evolution in the following months has seen, unsurprisingly, some tricky adjustments. Above all of this, the regulated industry is concerned about the lingering presence of illegal firms, as well as the way these operators market themselves such as via influencers.

The federal government has been issuing licences through the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets since January, offshore operators still continue to attract Brazilian customers with no regulatory oversight.

Risks to players and society
The Institute pointed to three main issues with illegal platforms: minors can gain access without checks, bettors risk losing their money without protection and the sites are often used to launder funds.

Licensed operators, in contrast, must run ID and facial recognition checks and are subject to anti-fraud monitoring.

The work was developed by agency We. Executive Creative Director, Carlos Schleder, detailed: “We sought a creative resource that literally demonstrates how illegal gambling can invade people’s daily lives.”

Meanwhile, fellow Director Kleyton Mourão added: “Ignoring the problem doesn’t encourage dialogue, and without it, there’s no solution. This is the first initiative to place the issue of illegal gambling on the national agenda and highlight how crucial this issue is to promoting concrete transformations.”

New tools and strong reception
The campaign also brings a digital element, with IBJR opening an Instagram account and launching Betalert – a tool that allows users to check whether a betting site is licensed by entering its URL.

Before launch, the Institute said that it tested the campaign with 1,000 people across the country. The results showed 78% considered the content credible and 77% said it was enjoyable, with the goat metaphor proving particularly memorable.

The latest push from IBJR, founded in 2023, reinforces the group’s message that illegal betting remains the biggest challenge for a sustainable and responsible industry.

ASA closes CAP Code loopholes on gambling content

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250154 views

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has announced a significant extension to the Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct and Promotional Marketing (CAP Code).

For the first time, the rules will explicitly apply to non-paid-for online marketing communications such as social media posts targeting UK consumers, regardless of where the advertiser is based.

The update aims to close long-standing regulatory loopholes and ensure that all UK-licensed businesses adhere to the same advertising standards, even if they operate from outside the UK – with new rules specifically designed for UK gambling licences.

Under the existing remit, offshore operators based in foreign jurisdictions such as Malta and Gibraltar were able to bypass CAP Code rules related to marketing communications.

Feedback to ASA recognised liabilities in the Code with regards to social media content promoting gambling services UK audiences, that was left outside of regulatory boundaries.

UK gambling licences were alerted that as of 1 September, exemption on non-paid content no longer apply. All operators holding UK licences must now ensure their unpaid marketing communications comply in full with the CAP Code.

“The amendment ensures all marketing communications targeted at UK consumers by licensed gambling operators are regulated and held to account by the same body (i.e. the ASA).

“The amendment to the scope of the Code is therefore made in line with better regulation principles, particularly to support consistency in regulation.”

Rules will be applied to all UK-targeted content on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.

In its statement, the ASA said the rule extension brings social media marketing by licensed gambling operators into scope, regardless of where those operators are located. It stated that the change promotes stronger regulatory standards and consistency in rules applied to UK gambling advertising.

While the new rules are already in force, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has launched a three-month consultation to gather feedback from the industry. A formal review of the changes is expected in December, following the conclusion of the consultation period.

The ASA has clarified that this extension applies exclusively to the gambling sector. It does not, at this stage, apply to advertisers from other industries that do not have a UK-registered address.

Changes to the CAP Code come amid growing public and political pressure to strengthen controls on gambling advertising across digital platforms, particularly given the heightened exposure of young users to promotional content.

CAP Code changes related to gambling advertising have been ongoing since 2022 and as part of the Gambling Review. Most notably ASA and CAP applied changes to the appeal and aesthetics of gambling ads, in which promotions can no longer feature athletes, celebrities or social media influencers.

Campaign restrictions were further tightened by CAP demanding that all online adverts promoting gambling have a base age guidance of +21, to prevent age-restricted content from being served to children.

Dr Raffaello Rossi: University of Bristol
Dr Raffaello Rossi, a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, welcomed the update, describing it as an important (albeit overdue) — step towards improved consumer protection.

Rossi, alongside other academics, had sent ‘several letters’ to the ASA to highlight the loophole in 2021, noting that gambling operators could avoid UK social media advertising regulations simply by relocating registered offices abroad.

“This is an important, though long overdue step for consumer protection and regulatory consistency in UK advertising.

Until now, social media advertising by some of the largest gambling operators — such as Paddy Power, Bet365 or Ladbrokes — often fell outside the remit of the ASA, because their businesses were registered abroad, even though they held a UK gambling licence.”

Dr Rossi thanked colleagues at the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, University of Bristol Business School, the APPG on Gambling Reform, Sanya Burgess, and Lord Foster of Bath for supporting the initiative.

UK gambling licences were informed that CAP will review the impact of the extended remit following a three-month period, deemed a timeframe that is necessary, given that the changes primarily affect a narrow category of non-paid social media content. Furthermore changes are not expected to be applied to a broader range of advertisers.

Unibet fined for offering unauthorised sports bets in the Netherlands

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250149 views

The Netherlands Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has imposed a penalty on Optdeck, the local operator behind the Unibet brand.

Unibet’s Dutch domain has been penalised for offering bets on prohibited markets. The bets included ones on corner kicks, yellow cards and matches involving players under the age of 21.

The violations occurred multiple times between October 2022 and May 2025, with the KSA imposing a weekly fine of €75,000, capped at €450,000.

The KSA had previously addressed Unibet regarding these offerings but found the company’s actions insufficient to prevent recurrence.

The authority explained on its website: “Under Dutch gambling law, betting on certain matches and event components is prohibited. This is to protect the integrity of the sport and prevent manipulation of these bets.”

The ruling aims to underline the regulator’s focus on protecting the integrity of sporting events and ensuring operators comply with Dutch law. Operators offering bets on specific match events or youth competitions face strict oversight, with penalties applied when violations occur.

More power pending
As the Netherlands moves towards its October general election, gambling is starting to take a key place in the political debate.

The centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, has set out its stance in a newly published manifesto. Among the proposals is a plan to hand the KSA broader powers.

The VVD believes a stronger regulator would be able to oversee the online market more effectively, limit gambling-related harm and deal more decisively with illegal activity.

By including gambling policy in its election programme, the party has opened the door for the sector to become a bigger talking point during campaigning, alongside other consumer protection issues.

The topic had already been on the government agenda for some time, but a package of reforms was shelved when the government collapsed in June. Although it remains firmly on the general political agenda, as seen by the VVD’s policies, the Minister responsible for tabling the reforms has now vacated his position for unrelated reasons.

Not Unibet’s first regulatory rodeo this year
Meanwhile, this is not the first penalty this year for the Unibet brand. Over in Australia, the company was fined AU$1m (£480,700/€560,100) a few months back for failing to shut down hundreds of customer accounts linked to Australia’s national self-exclusion system.

The country’s Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said its investigation found that the FDJ United-owned company had breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 more than 100,000 times.

At the centre of the case were 954 accounts that were not closed after players registered with BetStop, the country’s National Self-Exclusion Register (NESR). The ACMA highlighted that 45 of these accounts remained active for more than 190 days after exclusion.

Sweden targets young adult gambling debt in new campaign

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250180 views

Spelinspektionen, the Gambling Inspectorate of Sweden has launched “a new chapter “of its nationwide campaign to increase awareness of gambling risks and harms amongst youth and young adult audiences.

Launched as the fourth chapter of Spelinspektionen’s ‘youth protections series’, the campaign is titled “With your future at stake”.

The messaging shifts focus towards the issue of debt among young adults, a growing concern linked closely to problematic gambling behaviour specifically targeting individuals aged 18 to 25.

The new chapter is designed to highlight the long-term financial risks associated with early gambling habits. According to data from Kronofogden, Sweden’s Debt Agency, more than 31,000 young people in this age group currently have debts registered with the agency, amounting to over SEK 1.9bn (€160m).

Launched in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the campaign will roll out nationwide in digital channels and across social media platforms during the autumn, coinciding with the start of the school year – a strategic time to engage the target demographic.

Camilla Rosenberg, Director General of Spelinspektionen, underscored the urgency of the campaign, stating: “Young adults are a group that is particularly vulnerable. Through the campaign, we want to reach them at the right time and provide them with tools to make informed decisions about their gambling.”

While this year’s campaign centres on the financial consequences of gambling, previous efforts by Spelinspektionen have focused on identifying signs of gambling disorder, promoting early interventions with problem gamblers, and increasing awareness of safer gambling tools, including self-exclusion services.

The regulatory protections of Swedish gambling have come under scrutiny, as Spelinspektionen reported that it had failed for the sixth consecutive year to meet its regulated-market channelisation target of 90% (the percentage of consumer gambling spend).

A target in place since the launch of Sweden’s re-regulated online gambling market in 2019, Spelinspektionen noted that channelisation for online casino continues to lag at 75–80%.

This shortfall has prompted criticism of current product and player incentive restrictions, which are seen as making online casino offerings less appealing to consumers.

The Riksdag is now awaiting further recommendations on the future governance of gambling, which are due to be presented by the end of 2025.

Swedish inspectorate views casino as weakest link of channelisation

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250159 views

Sweden has yet to achieve the channelisation target rate of 90% for its regulated online gambling marketplace.

The latest channelisation figures, which detail the percentage of consumers gambling spend with licensed operators for 2024 were published by Spelinspektionen, the Gaming Inspectorate of Sweden.

In 2019, Sweden re-regulated its online gambling marketplace under the laws of the Gambling Act of 2018, at the time Swedish authorities and Spelinspektionen set a channelisation target of 90% of spend with licensed operators.

Figures for 2024 show a 1% decline in Swedish gambling’s channelization rate that tracks at 85% (2023: 86%). Yet of utmost concern, Swedish authorities have seen no marked improvement on gambling channelisation, which has remained in the region of 85%-to-87% since the market’s re-launch in 2019.

Stagnant figures are a worry since the inspectorate, with the aid of public health agencies, has launched national campaigns warning Swedish consumers of the dangers of unlicensed gambling.

Further anxieties are detailed as a breakdown reveals that the segment of “nätkasino” (online casino) has indexed a 12-month channelisation rate of between 72–82%. The report highlights concerns that there are periods in the year that see online casino index below 75% channelisation.

The shortfall in online casino channelisation is offset by improved and consistent figures in the online betting segment indexing at 92%-to-96% on a year basis.

The inspectorate reflects on regulatory factors that have impacted the attractiveness of licensed online casinos against the black market.

Amendments to the Gambling Act since 2019, have imposed a limit on Bonus incentives that can only be awarded to customers on sign-up and capped at SEK 100 per customer.

Furthermore in 2023, the government approved new safeguards to impose a Customer Care checks on players meeting thresholds on spend and time spent on platforms.

Feedback from a player survey reveals that many Swedish gamblers choose unlicensed operators due to perceived better chances of winning (35%), having been blocked from licensed sites via Spelpaus.se (23%), more attractive bonus offers (21%), and access to games that are not available on the regulated Swedish market.

The report views Skin Betting, involving virtual in-game items, as a liability grey-area form of gambling, especially popular among younger players as 43% of visits to unlicensed sites were linked to skinbetting content

In response to the latest assessment, BOS, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, issued a sharp critique of the government’s failure to act decisively on low channelisation in the online casino market.

“With this assessment, the SGA confirms that Sweden’s major problem in the gambling market is online casinos. It is unacceptable that around a quarter of all online casino gambling is leaking out of the licensed market,”
said Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS.

Gustaf Hoffstedt – BOS
BOS notes that the SGA’s estimate of 85% channelisation is no longer supported by H2 Gambling Capital, a previously used source, which has since downgraded its Sweden estimate from 91% to just 72%.

Hoffstedt emphasises that the issue is not solely enforcement but also that licensed operators are overly constrained, while unlicensed competitors offer more appealing incentives and fewer limitations.

“Without a review of, for example, the total ban on bonuses and other loyalty programmes, next year’s channelization assessment from the SGA will also be a disappointment,” Hoffstedt warned.

By the close of 2025, independent advisor Marcus Isgren is expected to present proposed amendments to the Gambling Act to the parties of the Riksdag— likely to include measures to criminalise all forms of unlicensed gambling activities targeting national consumers.

BOS supports this step, it warns that unless the licensed market becomes more attractive, enforcement alone will not fix the channelisation issue. As it stands, Sweden’s gambling market remains below target, with online casinos as the weakest link — both in policy outcomes and player trust.

Belgium’s King appoints new ministers to reshape gambling strategy

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250136 views

Philippe, the King of Belgium, has confirmed the names of all gambling regulatory members for the next six years.

Listed in the King’s Royal Decree and published in the Official Gazette, all 12 members – six full and six substitutes – step into service to Belgium’s Kansspelcommissie from today (1 September).

A total of five Ministers are represented across the Commission’s ranks – of Finance, Justice, Economy, Interior, and Public Health. Each Ministry has one Dutch-speaking and one French-speaking representative.

An additional two slots were given to the Ministry with responsibility for the National Lottery, which is the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Finance
The current top Belgian financier is Jozef Jambon, who besides serving as the Minister of Finance, Pensions, and National Lottery, has also been the Deputy Prime Minister since February 2025.

Jambon will be represented by Anne-Laure Mouligneaux and Ignace Vandewalle as full members of the Commission, who will oversee the financial aspects of gambling regulation – ensuring the compliance of operators with fiscal policies.

Their colleagues, Caroline Dujacquier and Tom Van Caeckenberghe, will represent the Finance Ministry in its role as the patron of the National Lottery.

Also instrumental to the Commission, Dujacquier and Van Caeckenberghe will be in charge of the regulatory compliance of the National Lottery.

This could prove particularly significant given that the government has been on the move to limit gambling ads, which might also affect the lottery’s future marketing campaigns.

Ministry of Justice
Perhaps of even bigger significance, however, will be the roles of Nathalie Patoussa and Daisy Vervenne, who represent the Ministry of Justice.

They will be responsible for shaping Belgium’s player protection policies at a time when stricter regulations are being sought after to reduce the influence of a rampant online black market.

Ministry of Public Health
Of equal importance will be the work of Ferdinand Van Der Gracht and Lena Boons, who are representatives of the Minister of Public Health.

Together they will monitor the implications of gaming on national health, and will devise strategies to combat problem gambling and addiction risks.

Ministry of Economy
The Minister of Economy will be represented by Michaël Stokard and Sahin Yazici.

They will take the lead on assessing the effects that gaming activity has on the national economy, and how it impacts economic growth, employment and market competitiveness.

Both the Ministry of Public Health and Economy could have a role in shaping and driving forward Belgium’s policy around gambling sponsorships and advertising in sports.

The two Ministres will have different things to consider – the Ministry of Public Health likely focused on the potential for gambling advertising to fuel problem gambling, while the Ministry of Economy may look at how crucial a financial lifeline sponsorships are to football clubs.

Ministry of the Interior
And last but not least, gambling’s compliance with public order and societal norms will be overseen by Stéphane Obeid and Béatrice Vossen, representatives of the Minister of the Interior.

Ukraine places all gambling licences under track and trace system

Steve HoareSeptember 3, 20250135 views

Gambling licences in Ukraine have been informed that their transactions will be recorded by a new ‘State Online Monitoring System’.

The measure was confirmed via a Telegram message issued on Sunday 31 August by the Cabinet of Ministers, governing Ukraine under conflict from Russia.

The Cabinet announced that it had approved a resolution on state registries, enabling all gambling transactions to be track and traced through the monitoring system.

The Online Monitoring System will support PlayCity—the newly established regulatory authority for Ukrainian gambling by enabling real-time tracking of bets, returns, and winnings.

The platform seeks to improve transparency by facilitating the “live verification of operator data to ensure regulatory compliance”, while also allowing PlayCity to publish market volume data providing accurate data for enforcements and policy making.

Integration with the monitoring system will apply to both land-based and online operators, including casinos, arcades, bookmakers, and online poker rooms. A public tender for the platform’s development is expected to be announced shortly, as Kyiv presses ahead with regulatory reforms despite the ongoing war.

PlayCity to bring structural reform
The implementation of the monitoring system forms part of a broader overhaul of Ukraine’s gambling sector, which saw the cabinet dissolve the former regulator, KRAIL – with the agency embroiled in multiple corruption scandals, including allegations of money laundering and ties to Russian operatives.

In its place, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy authorised a new regulator, PlayCity, which officially began operations on 1 April with a mandate to implement state policy across gambling and lotteries, deemed as high risk sectors under conflict.

On 8 April, the Cabinet appointed Hennadiy Novikov as head of PlayCity. Novikov, who previously served as both a member and deputy head of KRAIL, has long-standing ties to the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

PlayCity operates under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and has been tasked with ensuring transparency, protecting consumers, and restoring public trust in the gambling industry.

Licences demand urgent clarity
Ukraine’s government is preparing a slate of legislative changes aimed at tightening control over the sector, including a blanket ban on gambling advertising, a new register for B2B licences, and centralised powers for PlayCity to block illegal gambling websites.

These reforms come amid growing concerns about excessive gambling, with the National Bank warning that Ukrainian citizens are spending nearly UAH 400m (around €8m) daily on online platforms.

Amid the wider regulatory overhaul, Ukrainian gambling operators, many of whom have been sidelined by the conflict, are calling on the government to provide clear, enforceable, and transparent rules due disputed charges placed by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

With former operators facing licence suspensions, account freezes, and blacklisting abroad, stakeholders are urging policymakers to resolve lingering legal ambiguities and establish a stable, fair regulatory framework capable of supporting the sector’s long-term recovery.