Fine imposed due to illegal promotion of gambling on the Telegram channel "Truka Ukraina"
Ukraine's PlayCity State Agency Imposes Record Fine on Telegram Channel for Illegal Gambling Advertising
In a landmark decision, the PlayCity State Agency, responsible for overseeing gambling and lottery activities in Ukraine since April 2025, has imposed a fine of 4.8 million Hryvnia on the Telegram channel "Trukha Ukraine." This is the first known case of a Telegram channel being penalized for illegal casino advertising in Ukraine.
The fines were imposed due to systematic violations of advertising laws in the gambling sector. The Telegram channel was found to have used manipulative and misleading phrases, such as "won 2100 hryvnia from 100" and "subscriber took 17 thousand," creating a false impression of winning probability. These violations were systematic in nature, and the channel had no contracts with licensed gambling organizers.
PlayCity, a new state agency created in March 2025 as a result of gambling business reform, has emphasized the need to maintain order, protect citizens from gambling addiction, and prevent any attempts at manipulation and deception in the online space. The agency's main task is to control the legal segment of gambling and lotteries, digitize licensing processes, and ensure transparency in the domestic market.
The laws regarding gambling advertising in Ukraine are strict and closely regulated by PlayCity. Advertising is allowed only for licensed operators, and such ads must comply with mandatory registration requirements, include addiction warnings, and must not be misleading or manipulative. Additionally, the use of patriotic themes, war-related topics, and involving military personnel in gambling advertisements is prohibited.
The fine serves as a warning to all administrators and owners of various large media platforms, including Telegram channels. The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine announced the fine, stating that it is a response to the established systematic violations and disinformation. Previously, these functions were under the jurisdiction of KRAIL, but they were transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation in February.
In summary, Ukraine permits gambling ads from licensed organizers under regulated conditions, but prohibits illegal, unregistered, or misleading advertisements, with heavy penalties for violations as demonstrated by the "Trukha Ukraine" case. The government is determined to consistently maintain order, protect citizens from gambling addiction, and prevent any attempts at manipulation and deception in the online space.
- What type of advertisements are illegal in Ukraine, according to the PlayCity State Agency? - Illegitimate gambling advertisements are prohibited in Ukraine.
- Which platform has faced a record fine for such illegal advertisements in Ukraine? - The Telegram channel "Trukha Ukraine" was fined for systematic violations of advertising laws in the gambling sector.
- What implications do these fines have for media platforms in Ukraine? - The fine served as a warning to media platform administrators and owners, including Telegram channel administrators, to comply with the strict gambling advertising laws in Ukraine.
- What role does PlayCity's main task emphasize in the gambling industry? - PlayCity's main task is to control the legal segment of gambling and lotteries, digitize licensing processes, and ensure transparency in the domestic market, with a focus on protecting citizens from gambling addiction and preventing any attempts at manipulation and deception.
