Closure of Illegal Online Casinos in Ukraine
On July 8, 2025, Ukraine concluded actions to shut down 133 illegal online casinos operating in the network.
This was reported by the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Business Operators (AUGBO).
«The Security Service of Ukraine, State Special Communications, and other organizations completed a significant operation resulting in the blocking of 133 illegal online casinos that were functioning in Ukraine. The directive to block IP addresses was sent to providers on July 3, 2025, and is mandatory for execution,» the statement says.
According to AUGBO estimates, the activities of these casinos generated up to 5 billion UAH in illegal turnover quarterly.
The illegal online casinos were blocked using advanced technologies. Additionally, illegal financial processing and P2P payments were halted.
The association noted that approximately 50% of the gambling market remains in the shadows, leading to an annual loss of up to 10 billion UAH for the state. Meanwhile, licensed operators paid over 17 billion UAH in taxes last year, and from January to April 2025, they contributed 6.4 billion UAH.
Alexandr Kohut, president of AUGBO, emphasized that illegal casinos, many of which are linked to the Russian Federation, pose direct harm to the state and its citizens. These sites carry a high risk of fraud and leakage of players' personal data.
The association reminded that since February 14, 2025, the Ministry of Digital Transformation has been responsible for state policy in the gambling sector. On March 21, 2025, a new executive body, the State Agency «PlayCity,» was established. Combating illegal casinos is one of the priorities of the new gambling regulator.
According to information, within the first two weeks of its operation, the «PlayCity» agency identified 824 illegal online casinos and referred them for blocking to the relevant authorities.
