Ukraine’s PlayCity Moves to Automate Military Gambling Restrictions

Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has opened a tender for the creation of a software module designed to block military personnel from accessing gambling platforms.

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The planned module, first announced in March, will link two registers electronically: the Register of Persons Restricted from Access to Gambling and the State Register of Military Personnel, which is being developed by the Ministry of Defense.

Once the software is built, PlayCity and the Ministry must run joint tests to confirm the two systems interact smoothly.

Testing is scheduled to finish by December 24, 2026. If successful, the results will be published, clearing the way for the automated restriction mechanism to be formally rolled out.

“PlayCity” is announcing a tender for the development of a software module that will enable electronic interaction between the Register of Persons Restricted from Access to Gambling and the State Register of Military Personnel, which is being implemented by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense,” the regulator stated in a press release.

PlayCity outlines how the restriction would work

The system will rely on Trembita, Ukraine’s state platform for secure data exchange, to connect the gambling register with the military register according to a Mezha report. This link creates the technical base for automatic checks whenever a player tries to open an account or log in.

When a gambling operator receives a request from a user, it first queries the Register of Persons Restricted from Access to Gambling. If no restriction is found there, the system immediately runs a second check against the State Register of Military Personnel.

If either register confirms grounds for a ban, access is blocked without delay. Operators only see the outcome of the check, they are not told whether the restriction came from the military register, nor are they given details about the player’s status or the reason for the block. 

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Ukraine sees increased channelization rates as effects of reforms start to kick in

Ukraine’s gambling regulator has rolled out several updates in recent months, including the launch of a digital platform to report illegal gambling ads and the release of a draft strategy by the Ministry of Digital Transformation aimed at reducing gambling harm through 2035. 

Alongside these measures, the country continues to expand access‑restriction tools, allowing individuals to self‑exclude, family members to apply for restrictions, and legal representatives to file applications on behalf of vulnerable persons.  

It also launched a digital platform early this year to help players report illegal online gambling ads and has announced partnerships with major social media platforms like YouTube to block access to offshore casino ads.

These reforms appear to be influencing player behaviour. A nationwide survey carried out between May and June 2026 found that 86%  of online casino users now choose licensed operators, while 78% said they have no plans to switch to illegal platforms. 

The study, commissioned by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, also revealed that curiosity and entertainment, rather than money, were the main reasons people began gambling. 

Around 40% of respondents said they started gambling simply to try it out or because they were interested, while others pointed to promotions, social influence, or the chance to escape daily routines.

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