In a major crackdown on illegal gambling in Ukraine, authorities have announced that over 600 online casino websites have been blocked since the start of 2024. The move comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat the growing problem of illegal online gambling in the country.
According to the State Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (SCGOL), the 600 websites were operating without the necessary licenses and permits required to offer gambling services in Ukraine. These websites were found to be in violation of the country’s strict regulations on online gambling, which were introduced in 2020 to regulate the industry and protect consumers from fraud and exploitation.
The SCGOL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine, conducted a thorough investigation into the illegal online casino websites. The authorities identified the websites through monitoring and surveillance activities, and ultimately blocked access to them to prevent Ukrainian citizens from accessing these illegal gambling services.
It is estimated that the blocked websites were responsible for generating millions of dollars in revenue from Ukrainian players, who were lured in by the promise of easy money and high payouts. Many of these websites targeted vulnerable individuals, including young people and those with gambling addiction issues, leading to serious social and financial consequences for many families in the country.
In a statement, Volodymyr Vovk, the head of the SCGOL, emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing the laws regulating the gambling industry in Ukraine. He stated, “We will not tolerate illegal gambling activities in our country. These websites pose a serious threat to the well-being of our citizens, and we will continue to take decisive action to shut them down and hold those responsible accountable.”
The crackdown on illegal online casino websites in Ukraine is just the latest in a series of measures taken by the government to clean up the gambling industry in the country. In recent years, the government has introduced strict regulations on gambling advertising, imposed limits on the number of casinos allowed to operate in the country, and established a national self-exclusion registry for problem gamblers.
Despite these efforts, illegal gambling remains a significant problem in Ukraine, with many unlicensed operators continuing to offer their services to Ukrainian players. The government has urged citizens to report any suspicious or illegal gambling activities to the authorities, in order to help combat this growing issue and protect vulnerable individuals from falling into the trap of illegal online gambling.
