Ukraine to implement new system blocking military personnel from gambling platforms

Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Defense are introducing a new system to block service members from gambling, authorities announced this week.

Under the mechanism, users attempting to log in to gambling platforms will be checked against a registry of individuals restricted from gambling and a database of military personnel, Ukrinform reported. If a restriction is confirmed, access to the offering will be blocked.

In a statement on Facebook, the ministry said: “We are continuing a systematic fight against gambling addiction. Our goal is to protect service members and their families from the risks and consequences of problem gambling."

“To achieve this, together with the Ministry of Defense, we are preparing a mechanism that will limit the participation of defenders in gambling during martial law,” it added.

Officials said that gambling operators will not receive any information about a person’s military status. The system will simply indicate whether a restriction exists, without revealing personal data or providing explanations.

The mechanism will be implemented by PlayCity, Ukraine’s state agency regulating the gambling market. In 2025, PlayCity blocked more than 2,500 illegal online casino websites.