Illegal slot machines: The UA.NEWS editorial team discovered casinos near educational institutions and contacted the regulator
Kindergartens, schools, casinos — the UA.NEWS editorial team sent a journalistic inquiry to the Ukrainian State Agency “PlayCity” regarding evidence of gross violations of gambling laws. Journalists found that gambling halls in Kyiv’s luxury hotels are operating in close proximity to educational institutions, which is expressly prohibited by law.
Violation: 240 meters instead of 500
According to Part 4 of Article 38 of the Law “On State Regulation of Activities Related to the Organization and Conduct of Gambling,” the placement of gambling halls within 500 meters of educational institutions is strictly prohibited. However, an investigation by UA.NEWS revealed that the InterContinental Kyiv Hotel (2A Velyka Zhytomyrska St.) houses a licensed operator, FAVBET VIP CASINO LLC. Kindergarten No. 26 (16 Volodymyrska St.) is located just 240 meters from the establishment.
The same situation exists at the MERCURE KYIV CONGRESS Hotel (42A Oleksy Tykhy Street): it houses slot machine halls operated by FAVORIT CASINO COMPANY LLC. The distance to Secondary School No. 229 (57 Oleksy Tykhy Street) is only 300 meters.
The editorial team has also identified other violations of regulations regarding the placement of slot machines near educational institutions.
Questions for “PlayCity”
The editorial team emphasizes that such violations have a negative impact on young people and encourage minors to gamble. In this regard, UA.NEWS demands that the state regulator provide answers to the following questions:
- Did the licensing authority verify the locations of schools and kindergartens before issuing permits for the specified addresses?
- What measures will the PlayCity agency take regarding these licensees?
- Will the permits and licenses of entities that grossly violate the “500-meter” rule be revoked?
Context and Oversight
Journalists provided the regulator with irrefutable evidence—screenshots of maps confirming the critically short distance between casinos and children. According to the law, PlayCity is specifically responsible for ensuring that premises comply with safety and legality requirements.
The UA.NEWS editorial team is keeping a close eye on the situation and is awaiting an official response within the 5-day period established by law. We will continue to document the addresses of gambling halls that, in violation of the law, have “occupied” areas near educational institutions in the capital.
Previously, the state agency “PlayCity” began routine inspections of companies in the Ukrainian gambling market. No routine inspections had been conducted in the gambling industry, and a moratorium on business inspections had been in effect since March 2022. It was not until the fall of 2025 that “PlayCity,” in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, lifted the moratorium on the gambling market.
The first inspection has been completed—it targeted the bookmaker Favbet, which was fined over 9 million UAH. The violations identified include the use of software without a B2B license, delays in paying out winnings to players, and late payment of license fees.
