Compliance Updates
Ukrainians lend their support to Parimatch as 25,000-strong petition delivered to President Zelenskyy

The petition is asking the President to order a thorough investigation into the arbitrary sanctions imposed on the company
An official petition requesting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to review the decision to impose sanctions against Parimatch LLC has garnered over the required 25,000 signatures 14 days ahead of the deadline, as the Ukrainian public rallies behind the Company in its fight to uphold the rule of law in Ukraine and unblock its popular services in the country.
Under Ukrainian law an official petition that gathers 25,000 signatures is referred directly to the President for consideration. President Zelenskyy now has 10 days to act in the case which has become a touchstone issue for tens of thousands of Ukrainians who want to see their country become a successful democracy where the rule of law is firmly established and respected.
Parimatch, a popular international sports betting and online gambling company that provides its services to satisfied customers across three continents, has strong roots in Ukraine where the business originated. It was sanctioned by Ukraine earlier this year and banned from operating in the country for 50 years, which has impacted hundreds of thousands of citizens who can no longer access or retrieve their funds. The ban was the result of a flawed and unfair investigation that falsely claimed the Company was doing business in Russia.
Parimatch has provided expert independent legal opinion that confirms the Company ended its third-party licence agreements with Russian entities in March 2022, immediately after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This entailed terminating software and trademark licensing agreements it previously had with a Russian entity. Full information about the sanctions against Parimatch can be found on the website https://justice4business .com/en/ that provides extensive documentation about the unfair sanctions and the Company’s legal position.
Maxym Liashko, Managing Partner of Energame, Parimatch’s management company, said:
“We are Ukrainian patriots. Our fellow countrymen and countrywomen unequivocally agree with that. We have supported our country against Russia’s full-scale invasion from the first day, and immediately moved to terminate any remaining legacy business in the aggressor country. We are confident that Ukraine is on an irreversible road to becoming a democratic European nation where people can live and do business freely, while enjoying the full protection of the law. We trust that our President, a champion of the rule of law and liberal democratic values, will do the right thing and order a review of the unjust sanctions that were imposed on us in a flawed and unfair process.
“We all agree that it is the right and the duty of Ukrainian authorities to sanction entities or individuals that seek to undermine the country. Sanctions are a powerful tool in the fight against the invaders and their supporters. However, mistakes are sometimes made, as happened in the case of Parimatch. A robust review and appeal system is therefore an essential part of any sanctions regime.”
The petition also highlights Parimatch’s support for the Ukrainian army and wider war effort that so far has totalled 547 mln hryvnia ($14 mln) and is still ongoing. As an international company proud of its strong Ukrainian roots, Parimatch will remain an unwavering supporter of Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression.
AML
Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Online gambling continues to thrive in Poland, despite the country’s strict regulatory framework. Virtual casinos and betting platforms still attract players with the promise of easy access and quick winnings. Yet, their operations would not be possible without the involvement of payment institutions that process transactions for entities operating outside the boundaries of the law. Behind the scenes lie not only questions about compliance with Poland’s Gambling Act, but also serious concerns about money laundering and the potential financing of criminal activity.
PSPs Legal Responsibility
The key question remains the legality of actions taken by payment institutions that handle transactions linked to illegal online gambling. Do they, even unintentionally, help such operations thrive? Under Polish law, payment service providers are required to monitor and limit high-risk transactions. In practice, this means that every deposit or withdrawal connected to unlicensed gambling activity should be treated as a red flag. Special attention is also given to transactions made through popular mobile payment systems such as BLIK. While BLIK itself is not a payment institution under Polish law, the banks and financial operators using it are and it is they who bear responsibility for preventing the flow of funds that may support illegal gambling activities.
Clear Legal Framework, Limited Excuses
Polish law leaves little room for speculation here. The register of domains used to offer illegal gambling, the ban on processing payments for unlicensed operators, and the penalties outlined in the Fiscal Penal Code and Criminal Code set clear boundaries of responsibility.
The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AML) and the EU Regulation 2023/1113 require payment institutions to actively monitor transactions, block suspicious transfers, and cut off risky relationships. Guidance issued by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF/UKNF) and the National Risk Assessment, along with its sectoral annex, describes typical abuse schemes and makes it clear that payments directed toward online gambling should be treated as a major warning signal. In practice, this means that financial channels supporting illegal gambling must be identified and shut down before the funds return to players as so-called “winnings.”
And this principle is now being actively enforced. Recently, the Financial Supervision Authority (UKNF) went a step further, issuing a sector-wide warning urging payment service providers to block financial flows to unlicensed operators. In response, Polish payment providers have begun withdrawing support for illegal gambling sites and removing payment options such as BLIK from unlicensed platforms.
The Hardest to Detect: The Intermediary Role
The flow of funds into illegal online gambling can take many forms, depending on the relationships between the parties involved in the transaction. The most difficult to detect, however, is the scenario in which a payment institution acts only as an intermediary within a larger payment chain transferring money between other financial service providers without directly serving the payer or the recipient. Even in such cases, the institution is not exempt from its obligation to continuously monitor and analyse all transactions.
Depending on the type of payment, it should apply different verification methods, all aimed at determining whether executing a transfer on behalf of another provider could, in practice, end up funding entities that organize illegal online gambling. The institution must obtain information from the ordering provider about the recipient, determine whether it is engaged in gambling related activity, and verify its legal status. If red flags arise during the analysis such as missing data in the payment chain, a domain listed in the official register, or the absence of the website from the list of legal operators the transaction should be paused or rejected and properly escalated. This includes raising the risk level, notifying the relevant authorities, or even terminating cooperation. When dealing with correspondent relationships involving other institutions, including those based within the European Union, heightened caution is essential.
Grey Market Fuelled by Inaction
Illegal online gambling would not exist without the support of the payment system. Although the law clearly defines the obligations of financial institutions, in practice it is often these very institutions that knowingly or not enable the flow of money into illegal online gambling. This is why effective identification and blocking of such transactions is crucial, especially within complex payment chains where tracing the connections can be most difficult. Every transfer made in support of illegal online gambling represents not only a legal risk but also real support for the shadow economy that thrives on the lack of vigilance within the financial sector.
This article was supplied by:
Marek is a founder and a head of the legal team at RM Legal Law Firm and Gaming In Poland, jointly providing multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional support for leading international gambling operators in the Polish, European Union, and African markets. His gambling practice includes regulatory support at the pre and post-licensing stage, IT, and taxation services, as well as the unique service of performing a function of a gambling representative. RM Legal is the only law firm in Poland representing offshore companies operating legally in the Polish gambling market. Apart from gambling Marek specializes in corporate commercial law and international investment projects.
The post Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025

Reading Time: < 1 minute
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft rules for the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which was introduced back in August.
The draft outlines how online games will be classified and registered, what formats are permitted, and the powers of the proposed Online Gaming Authority of India. It also specifies how registrations can be suspended or cancelled, how grievances will be addressed, and what penalties will apply for violations.
The ministry has invited public feedback on the draft, asking stakeholders to send comments on each rule by October 31.
The Act aims to draw a clear line between gaming and gambling. Passed in August, it bans online money games while supporting esports and “social gaming” (regular video games) as legitimate forms of entertainment.
Introduced by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 20 in the Lok Sabha, the Bill cleared the Rajya Sabha the next day and received presidential assent by August 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “major decision,” saying, “Gaming is not bad, gambling is. They call it gaming, but it becomes gambling.” He added that India should strengthen its global position in gaming and capture a larger share of the market.
The post Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Turkey Blocks 30 Social Media Accounts Over Illegal Gambling Ads

Reading Time: < 1 minute
Turkey’s Advertising Board has banned access to 30 social media accounts for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling.
The board said its review found that some YouTube and other social media accounts carried content encouraging users to participate in live betting and promoting gambling.
It ruled that the advertisements violated Turkey’s Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices as well as the Consumer Protection Law.
If the content is not removed, the accounts in question will be permanently shut down, the board said.
Gambling is tightly restricted in Turkey. Casinos were banned in 1998 and non-state online gambling was outlawed in 2006. However, the state-run lottery, Milli Piyango, and some licensed betting services remain legal, including a limited number of online platforms. Despite these restrictions, illegal online gambling, especially related to professional football, remains widespread.
In recent years, the Turkish authorities have carried out crackdowns on illegal gambling websites, social media promotions and payment networks, arguing that such activities fuel addiction and drain billions of lira from the economy. The government has also tightened internet controls, requiring platforms to remove banned content quickly or risk heavy fines and bandwidth throttling.
Critics say the restrictions form part of Turkey’s broader efforts to assert control over digital platforms and limit online content deemed harmful or politically sensitive. Major social media companies have faced pressure to comply with Turkish regulations, including demands to establish local offices and respond to takedown requests.
The post Turkey Blocks 30 Social Media Accounts Over Illegal Gambling Ads appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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