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Since 01.04.2025, under Law 4116-IX, gambling advertising in Ukraine is banned everywhere except a closed list of 7 channels: late-night broadcast, 21+ publications and online media, the operator's own sites and pages, and platforms and search engines with 21+ targeting. Only a Ukrainian licensee may order ads, which must carry an addiction warning and licence details. Bloggers and other well-known people, except athletes, may not take part. The fine of 600 minimum wages, UAH 5,188,200 in 2026, applies to everyone in the chain: advertiser, producer and distributor.
Law 4116-IX and Article 22-1
The advertising rules sit in the Advertising Law, while fines and enforcement sit in the gambling law.
- The rule: Article 22-1 of the Ukrainian Advertising Law as amended by Law 4116-IX of 04.12.2024. The new rules apply from 01.04.2025, and the article has not changed since.
- The fine rose from 300 to 600 minimum wages and applies to breaches after 01.04.2025.
- Enforcement: the PlayCity regulator. The National Council for Television and Radio covers how ads are distributed in media.
Where ads are allowed: a closed list
Anything not on the list is banned. Listing an app in an app store does not count as advertising.
Linear audiovisual and audio media at night only.
Publications about gambling and sport for people over 21.
Inside the venues themselves.
Its own sites and apps used for the business, and the operator's social media pages.
Only outlets registered under the Media Law and intended for people over 21.
Registered on-demand video services where 21+ targeting is technically possible.
Social networks, video platforms and search engines where 21+ targeting is technically possible.
Outdoor advertising is not on the list. The Supreme Court backed the regulator: even mentioning an operator brand on an outdoor medium counts as gambling advertising, and the fine was lawful (PlayCity notice of 03.03.2026).
What is banned inside the ad
Even on a permitted channel an ad breaks the law if it has these elements.
- Free bonuses instead of a stake and any direct or indirect refund of the cost of play.
- Well-known people other than athletes: culture and media figures, public figures, bloggers and influencers who earn from their accounts. Also their images and names, and film, TV and cartoon characters.
- People under 21, including models, medical workers and other groups listed in Part 2 of Article 22-1, plus several socially sensitive themes from the same part.
- The idea that winning is easy, or that gambling is income or a substitute for work. Targeting vulnerable people: children, low-income groups, people with mental disorders.
- Branded merchandise on any goods except gaming items, and product placement.
- Calls and messages to an undefined audience by post, phone and messengers. CRM messages to your own players are not explicitly banned, but responsible gambling principles and limits apply.
- Advertising financial institutions and their services by the operator, and any advertising of unlicensed operators.
What every ad must include
- Licence details: number, date of issue and the issuing authority.
- Only a licensee of the relevant activity may order ads. Advertising another operator's brand is banned, except within a group.
- A 21+ mark and accuracy: no false or misleading information.
- The language of ads is Ukrainian.
Sponsorship and sport
Operator brands may not be used in sponsorship, except in sport other than children's and youth sport: teams, athletes, competitions and broadcasts. Conditions: no outdoor ads, no transport or metro, and indoors only in gaming venues and closed premises during sporting events. Branded broadcast sponsorship is allowed only in media that hold the broadcast rights.
The government strategy to 2035 tasks the ministry with drafting changes in 2027 on advertising and sponsorship during sports broadcasts, at venues and on kits, with a full ban in children's sport.
Bloggers, Telegram, streamers and affiliates
- Bloggers and influencers: banned except athletes. The ministry and PlayCity treat as a breach any content showing the game interface, bets or wins, promising bonuses or "free play", presenting gambling as easy income or disguising ads as personal experience.
- Telegram: there is no specific rule, but an unregistered channel is not a permitted channel. Telegram is in the PlayCity complaint form, and media reported (08.07.2026) that a channel admin was fined UAH 5.2M for promoting illegal casinos.
- Streamers: PlayCity refers channels directly to TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Twitch, Viber, Google and, since 22.06.2026, Kick.
- Affiliates (our reading of the rules, not the regulator's position): an affiliate site is not an operator site, so ads there are lawful only if it is a registered 21+ online outlet or placement on platforms with 21+ targeting. Only a licensee may order ads, advertising unlicensed operators is banned, and the 600 MW fine also hits the distributor, meaning the affiliate itself.
Fines and enforcement
The regulator fines not only operators but also channels, individuals and media.
| What | Amount or figure | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fine for breaching ad rules, per party | 600 MW, UAH 5,188,200 | 2026 |
| Fine for not providing requested information | 3 MW, UAH 25,941 | 2026 |
| Fine decisions against distributors | 15 decisions, UAH 67.2M | 07-12.2025 |
| Fines over 11 months of PlayCity | almost UAH 80M, over 500 pages blocked | to 30.04.2026 |
| Social and streaming profiles | 785 restricted, 425 complaints via the form | to 22.06.2026 |
| A football club: an ad showing people under 21 | almost UAH 5.2M | 04.2026 |
Sources: Law 768-IX Art. 59, the PlayCity 2025 report, PlayCity news of 30.04.2026, 07.05.2026 and 22.06.2026. MW: UAH 8,647 on 01.01.2026.
Since 30.04.2026 the PlayCity site has an online complaint form for illegal ads, with over 250 complaints in the first two weeks. The regulator sends content to platforms for blocking, identifies the person and then fines them.
Campaign check before launch
- The client is a Ukrainian licensee, and the creative shows the licence number, date and issuing authority.
- The channel is on the 7-item list; online, 21+ targeting is on or the outlet is registered as 21+.
- The warning covers 15% of the area in black on white, and is voiced once a minute in video and audio.
- No bloggers or well-known people except athletes, nobody under 21, and no film or cartoon characters.
- No free bonuses instead of a stake and no promises of easy wins or income.
- No outdoor media, merchandise or messages to an undefined audience, and the language is Ukrainian.
For the licence, taxes and other operator rules see the gambling licence in Ukraine, and for the market and calendar the Ukraine GEO page.
Frequently asked questions
Where can casinos advertise in Ukraine?
Only in 7 places: TV and radio from 23:00 to 06:00, specialist 21+ publications, gaming venues, the operator's own sites, apps and pages, registered 21+ online media, and on-demand media, platforms and search engines with 21+ targeting.
Can bloggers advertise casinos in Ukraine?
No. The law bans well-known people, including bloggers and influencers who earn from their accounts. The only exception is athletes.
What is the fine for illegal gambling advertising?
600 minimum wages, UAH 5,188,200 in 2026. It applies to every party: advertiser, producer and distributor.
Which warning is mandatory in ads?
A Ukrainian text saying gambling can cause addiction and urging players to follow responsible gambling principles. At least 15% of the area in black on white, and once a minute in audio.
Are outdoor ads and sponsorship allowed?
Outdoor ads are not on the permitted list, and even a brand on a billboard counts as advertising. Sponsorship is allowed only in sport, except children's sport, and without outdoor ads, transport or metro.
Can you advertise casinos on Telegram?
There is no specific rule, but an unregistered channel is not a permitted channel, and advertising unlicensed operators is banned everywhere. The regulator accepts complaints about Telegram channels.
The bottom line: in Ukraine gambling ads are allowed only for licensees and only in 7 places, and the UAH 5.19M fine hits every party in the chain. Before any campaign check the channel, 21+ targeting, the warning, licence details and who appears on screen.
Next breakdownGambling licence in Ukraine 2026: cost, requirements and how to get oneThe PlayCity licence in 2026: an online casino pays UAH 56.2M for 5 years, with the yearly part tripled to UAH 33.7M. Requirements, documents, timing, taxes and fines under Law 768-IX.Read
