Ukraine to Automate Gambling Restrictions for Military Personnel
Ukraine.- 27 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Ukraine has taken another step towards automating restrictions preventing military personnel from accessing gambling venues and online platforms while martial law remains in force.
Regulator PlayCity has launched a tender to develop technology capable of automatically verifying users’ military status and restricting access where required.
Automatic Verification
The new system will use Trembit, Ukraine’s state data-exchange platform.
The technology will conduct checks against official databases before allowing a user to access gambling services.
The objective is to replace manual processes with an automated mechanism capable of applying restrictions more rapidly and consistently.
State Registers to Be Cross-Checked
The system will first check the Register of Persons with Restricted Access to Gambling.
It will then consult the State Register of Military Personnel.
By combining information from both databases, gambling platforms will be able to determine whether an individual is permitted to access their services.
Restrictions Introduced in 2024
Ukraine ordered restrictions on military personnel accessing gambling establishments and participating in online gambling in April 2024.
The measures apply while martial law remains in force.
They formed part of a wider government response to the potential negative effects of online gambling.
Additional Player-Protection Measures
Other requirements introduced during the same period included:
- Restrictions on gambling advertising.
- A ban on operators registering multiple accounts for a single player.
- Mandatory spending limits.
Automating military access restrictions represents the next stage in implementing that policy.
System Under Testing
The technology is currently undergoing testing.
Once the trial phase has been completed, the system is expected to move into regular operation.
The testing period is scheduled to conclude by 24 December 2026.
Role of PlayCity
PlayCity was established in April 2025 to oversee Ukraine’s gambling industry.
Its creation followed government concerns regarding the potential economic and security risks associated with the sector.
The regulator has since introduced additional technological tools designed to strengthen oversight.
Online Monitoring
PlayCity has implemented a State Online Monitoring System intended to provide greater visibility over gambling activity taking place through licensed operators.
Centralised data gives the regulator additional capacity to monitor the legal market and identify potential compliance issues.
Tackling the Illegal Market
The regulator has also increased efforts against illegal operators and unauthorised gambling promotion.
Its initiatives include cooperation with major digital platforms to block advertising connected to illegal gambling.
Reducing the scale of the unlicensed market remains one of Ukraine’s major regulatory challenges.
Market Channelisation
A recent study estimated Ukraine’s gambling channelisation rate at approximately 84%.
However, one in five respondents said they knew people who had gambled through unlicensed websites.
The findings indicate that while most activity is taking place within the regulated market, illegal gambling remains present.
Economic Scale
Ukraine’s legal gambling market generated approximately UAH59 billion during 2025.
The size of the sector increases the importance of systems capable of monitoring activity, protecting vulnerable groups and enforcing targeted restrictions where necessary.
Industry Context
Digital verification is becoming an increasingly important regulatory tool for gambling markets that need to process large volumes of users in real time.
In Ukraine, the ongoing wartime environment adds another dimension, with specific policies designed to protect military personnel from gambling-related harm.
Connecting state databases directly to verification processes will allow restrictions to be enforced automatically at the point of access.
Next Steps or Impact
PlayCity will continue testing the system over the coming months, with the trial period due to conclude by 24 December 2026.
Once operational, the technology will automatically identify military personnel subject to gambling restrictions and prevent them from accessing relevant services.
The project also represents another step in Ukraine’s broader strategy of using state digital infrastructure to automate regulatory compliance across the gambling industry.
Editó: @fonta
