Ukraine’s PlayCity blocks TikTok accounts over illegal gambling advertising
The new regulator has stepped up its enforcement actions as it prepares to issue new licences.
Ukraine.- The new Ukrainian gambling regulator PlayCity says it has blocked 33 TikTok accounts for illegally advertising unlicensed gambling. The regulator said the total audience of the blocked accounts was 365,000 users. Some 20 other accounts remain under review.
The news comes as the regulator seeks an IT provider to run a new gambling monitoring and exclusion system in Ukraine, which it aims to have up and running by the end of the year. The idea is that players will be able to manage their gambling profiles using Diia, Ukraine’s national digital ID app, where they will also be able to request a self-exclusion or restrict gambling for family members.
PlayCity said the system would use encrypted connections, secure storage and two-step verification. It will notify licensed operators of sign ups.
The Cabinet of Ministers established PlayCity in March, and the new regulator became operational in June. It is also currently preparing to issue new gambling licences and confirm existing ones after the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution on licensing conditions for the Ukrainian gambling sector last month.
PlayCity estimates that the licensing process will generate almost UAH 50m (€1.03m) in additional revenues to the state budget from licence fees in the near future. It said that additional budget revenues will be used to strengthen defence capabilities, in particular, to purchase drones for the Defence Forces.
It said that to obtain a Ukrainian gambling licence, companies must demonstrate good business reputation, an absence of ties with Russia and implementation of all necessary mechanisms for responsible gaming. It said these requirements apply to both new and existing licensees. Current licensees still have some time to submit documents to PlayCity to show compliance with the requirements. If the requirements are not met, sanctions may apply in the form of fines or termination of the licence.
The Ukrainian government is also preparing new legislation for a nationwide ban on gambling advertising, the creation of a B2B licence registry, and expanded powers for PlayCity to block unauthorised gambling websites.
