TLDR
- PlayCity opened a tender to build a software module blocking military personnel from gambling platforms
- The module will link the gambling restriction register with the Ministry of Defense’s military register
- Testing between PlayCity and the Ministry is scheduled to finish by December 24, 2026
- The system uses Trembita, Ukraine’s secure data exchange platform, to run automatic checks
- A recent survey found 86% of online casino players now choose licensed platforms over illegal ones
Ukraine’s gambling regulator PlayCity has opened a tender for a new software module. The tool will block military personnel from accessing gambling platforms during martial law.
The module will connect two official databases electronically. These are the Register of Persons Restricted from Access to Gambling and the State Register of Military Personnel.
The military register is being built by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. It will work alongside PlayCity’s existing player restriction list.
This plan was first announced in March 2026. The new tender moves the project into its development phase.
PlayCity and the Ministry of Defense will need to test the two systems together. They must confirm the registers can share data without errors.
Testing is set to finish by December 24, 2026. Results from the trial will be published once it wraps up.
If the tests succeed, the automated restriction system will move toward a full rollout.
How the system will work
The setup relies on Trembita, Ukraine’s secure government data exchange platform. It connects the gambling register with the military register.
When a person tries to open a gambling account or log in, the operator runs a check. The system first looks at the Register of Persons Restricted from Access to Gambling.
If no restriction shows up there, a second check runs against the military register. This happens automatically within the same login process.
If either register flags a person, access is blocked right away. Operators only see whether someone is blocked, not why.
This means gambling companies will not know if a block came from the military list or another restriction. The reason for the block stays private.
Wider gambling reforms in Ukraine
PlayCity has introduced other changes in recent months. These include a platform for reporting illegal gambling ads.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has also released a draft strategy. It aims to reduce gambling harm through 2035.
Ukraine has expanded its self exclusion tools too. Family members and legal representatives can now apply for restrictions on behalf of others.
The country partnered with YouTube earlier this year to block illegal casino ads. This built on an earlier platform launched to help players report unlicensed gambling ads.
A nationwide survey conducted between May and June 2026 found that most players now use licensed platforms. The Ministry of Digital Transformation commissioned the study.
The survey found that 86% of online casino users choose licensed operators. It also found that 78% of players said they have no plans to switch to illegal sites.
The study also looked at why people start gambling. Curiosity and entertainment were the top reasons, not money.
About 40% of respondents said they began gambling out of curiosity or interest. Others cited promotions, social influence, or a desire to escape daily routines.
