Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has widened its cooperation with digital platforms by establishing direct communication with live-streaming service Kick, a move designed to accelerate the removal of illegal gambling advertising from online channels.
The regulator said the partnership allows it to submit reports directly to platform operators when content appears to breach gambling advertising rules. Through these channels, PlayCity can request reviews of content and seek restrictions on accounts, pages and streams promoting unlicensed gambling services.
The addition of Kick expands a network of digital partners that already includes TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Twitch, Viber and Google. According to PlayCity, the system provides a faster route for identifying and restricting unlawful gambling promotions before they reach wider audiences.
Account Restrictions Increase Following New Cooperation
PlayCity reported immediate results from its collaboration with Kick. During the past week, two channels on the platform were blocked after being identified as carrying illegal gambling advertising.
The regulator also disclosed broader enforcement figures linked to complaints received from the public. During June, PlayCity received 19 reports concerning suspected illegal gambling advertisements, with 12 submitted through an online reporting form available on its website.
Following investigations, access was restricted to 37 accounts across TikTok, Instagram, Twitch and Kick. Combined, those accounts had more than 895,000 followers.
Additional figures released by the regulator showed that enforcement activity during the past week led to the removal of 20 TikTok accounts with more than 473,000 followers, 11 Instagram accounts reaching over 314,000 users, four Twitch channels with a combined audience exceeding 107,000 followers and two Kick channels with around 1,200 followers.
Since launching its campaign against unlawful promotions, PlayCity has restricted access to 785 profiles on social media and streaming services that were found to be advertising gambling illegally.
Complaint System Supports Enforcement Process
PlayCity recently introduced a dedicated online section allowing users to report suspected advertising violations. The regulator said the simplified process enables members of the public to submit evidence within minutes.
Since the reporting system became available, PlayCity has received 425 complaints concerning gambling advertisements. Each submission undergoes review by agency staff and legal specialists to determine whether it contains evidence of prohibited promotional activity.
If investigators conclude that a violation has occurred, the information is passed to the relevant platform so access to the content can be restricted. Where complaints do not contain sufficient evidence or fail to meet the legal definition of illegal gambling advertising, PlayCity informs the complainant of the decision.
Financial Penalties Follow Investigations
Removing content represents only the first stage of enforcement. After restricting access to material, PlayCity attempts to identify the individuals or organisations responsible for publishing it.
The regulator stated that confirmed violations can result in financial sanctions of almost ₴5.2 million. When responsible parties cannot be identified through publicly available information or official registries, PlayCity works with law enforcement agencies to continue investigations.
The campaign forms part of wider efforts to combat black-market gambling promotion. Ukrainian law imposes restrictions on gambling advertising, including measures intended to protect minors and requirements relating to licensed operators.
PlayCity believes direct cooperation with platforms, including Kick, will strengthen its ability to curb illegal advertising and pursue those responsible for distributing it online.
Source:
“PlayCity has begun collaborating with Kick to quickly block illegal gambling advertising”, playcity.gov.ua, Jun 22, 2026
The post PlayCity Adds Kick to Illegal Gambling Ad Crackdown first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.