PlayCity Adds ₴5.2M to Tribuna’s Gambling Ad Penalties
The new decision was announced on October 26. PlayCity accused Sport Sohodni LLC, the company operating Tribuna, of carrying advertising for a brand used by an unlicensed gambling business. The regulator gave no name or URL for the advertisement.
Three Betting Brands Named in the First Case
Tribuna’s previous dispute started with an esports betting guide. On August 20, 2025, PlayCity examined a section covering CS2, Dota 2 and League of Legends, along with several bookmaker profiles.
The court file names Pokerbet, Coins Game and BCGame. PlayCity had recorded their branding on Tribuna pages and, on August 22, ordered access restrictions for websites connected with all three.
Tribuna argued that the pages were guides for readers, not gambling advertisements. Its objections also covered the regulator’s inspection methods and the procedure used to impose the fine.
An air raid alert interrupted the administrative hearing on October 14, 2025. Tribuna said it should have been given another hearing before the fine was issued.
The court disagreed. Tribuna had already submitted written explanations, the judge noted, and the interrupted hearing did not invalidate the procedure. The April 17, 2026 ruling also treated the bookmaker rankings and betting links as advertising.
Minimum Wage Puts Second Fine ₴388,200 Higher
The first sanction was ₴4.8 million in October 2025. This year’s penalty works out to ₴5,188,200.
The calculation follows Article 59 of Ukraine’s gambling law, which sets the fine at 600 minimum monthly wages. The monthly minimum rose to ₴8,647 in January 2026.
The fines were calculated as follows:
| Year | Minimum monthly wage | Fine (×600) | USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ₴8,000 | ₴4,800,000 | ≈$115,400 (Oct 14 rate) |
| 2026 | ₴8,647 | ₴5,188,200 | ≈$114,800 (Oct 26 rate) |
The increase amounts to ₴388,200, or 8.1%.
Based on the statutory calculation, Tribuna’s two fines total ₴9,988,200, or roughly $221,000 at the October 26 exchange rate. These are imposed penalties, rather than confirmed payments.
Appeal Proceedings Opened in June
Tribuna appealed its first court defeat. On June 18, 2026, the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal accepted the case and asked the lower court to send over its files. The documents checked by 15M contain no later appellate judgment.
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