On July 25, 2025, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine announced via its official Telegram channel that PlayCity had fined the Telegram channel “Trukha Ukraine” 4.8 million UAH for illegal casino advertising.
In light of this news, we remind charitable foundations, public figures, Telegram channel owners and administrators, bloggers, athletes, and other influencers of the key permissions and prohibitions related to gambling advertisements.
Gambling advertising is allowed under the following conditions:
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compliance with time restrictions for ad placement;
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ability to target audiences by age;
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special registration in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Media”;
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and other requirements set by law.
At the same time, the following is prohibited in gambling advertisements:
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use of gambling trademarks on any consumer products;
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involvement of persons under the age of 21, even as photo models;
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participation of military personnel, volunteers, doctors, and other healthcare workers, as well as individuals whose appearance mimics that of military or medical professionals;
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involvement of individuals working in culture and/or media (except for athletes);
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creating the impression that gambling is easy to win or that participation in gambling can serve as a source of income or an alternative to work.
As evident, penalties for violating gambling advertising laws are significant, and the legal requirements are strict.
Therefore, we strongly recommend consulting with legal professionals in advance to assess the compliance and risks associated with any advertising campaign — whether related to gambling or any other area of business.