Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has established direct communication channels with streaming platform Kick to remove unauthorized gambling advertisements. The initiative was announced on Monday and expands an ongoing enforcement campaign across multiple digital services.
PlayCity now coordinates directly with platform teams at Kick, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Twitch, Viber, and Google. The regulator screens user submissions through an online complaint form introduced last month. During the most recent 30-day period, authorities blocked 37 social media accounts with a combined audience of over 895,000 followers.
Two Kick channels were also removed following flagged complaints. Since the campaign began, PlayCity has restricted 785 profiles and processed 425 public reports, including 19 submissions in June.
Enforcement Procedures and Financial Penalties
The regulatory framework operates through a two-stage process. Suspected violations are first referred to platform operators for content removal or account restriction. PlayCity then identifies the advertisers responsible for the material. Confirmed breaches trigger financial sanctions of approximately UAH 5.2 million ($155,678). When public registries do not provide advertiser identification, law enforcement agencies assist with further investigation. Not every submission results in a penalty, as content failing to meet the legal definition of gambling advertising is excluded from sanctions.The current measures build on data from PlayCity’s inaugural annual report. The regulator recorded total fines exceeding UAH 988 million against gambling operators for legal violations last year. An additional UAH 80 million was levied specifically for advertising regulation breaches.