Ukraine's Krail Blocks 11 More Unlicensed Online Casino Sites
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Loading... - Mikhail Petrov
- 01 Aug 2024
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The Ukrainian gambling regulator, KRAIL, has ordered the blocking of 11 additional online casino sites for operating without a license. The sites, including 888starz.bet, Astekbet.com, and Roobet.com, were instructed to be blocked by hosting providers using domain name system (DNS) servers within three days of the order.
KRAIL identified Cloudflare Inc and Melbikomas UAB as hosting the Cosmobet and Astekbet sites, respectively. This move comes after the regulator blocked 371 unlicensed gambling websites last month, following joint action with the security service.
National Gambling Self-Exclusion Register Sees Significant Increase
In related news, KRAIL reported a 139% increase in registrations on the national gambling self-exclusion register in the first half of 2024. The number of people signed up to the register rose by 4,585 to 7,874, with 87% of new sign-ups being men. Additionally, 41 people were added to the register following applications registered by relatives.
Future of KRAIL Uncertain
Despite its ongoing efforts to regulate the Ukrainian gambling sector, KRAIL's future is uncertain. In April, the country's parliament voted to disband the regulator, citing criticism of its collegial structure, which has led to meeting cancellations and delays in license applications. The bill will undergo a second reading before it can be signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. If approved, gambling regulation will be transferred to the digital transformation ministry until a new regulator is established.
Additional Gambling Reforms
Ukraine is also advancing with a ban on gambling for the military, as well as a ban on using military iconography in gambling advertising. These reforms aim to promote responsible gambling practices and protect vulnerable individuals.
