The State Bureau of Investigation reported that its officers detained the nominal owner of a company that operated in Ukraine under the PIN-UP online casino brand. It is alleged that he spent a long time in Cyprus, where he was in contact with the real Russian owners of PIN-UP. The company considers the accusations unfounded, as stated in an official statement.
The State Bureau of Investigation reported that its officers detained the nominal owner of a company that operated in Ukraine under the PIN-UP online casino brand. It is alleged that he spent a long time in Cyprus, where he was in contact with the real Russian owners of PIN-UP. The company considers the accusations unfounded, as stated in an official statement.
As noted by the State Bureau of Investigation, the detainee did not have legal sources to contribute UAH 30 million to the authorized capital of a legal entity that received a license to organize gambling on the Internet.
"The detainee spent a fairly long time in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, where he spent time with citizens of the Russian Federation - the real owners of the online casino," the Bureau said.
The SBI recalled that "documentary evidence has been provided of the links" between the online casino PIN-UP and representatives of the Russian Federation and Russian capital. In addition, according to the investigation, individuals associated with PIN-UP conduct business on the territory of the "LPR" and fill the budgets of the occupiers.
“In addition, the person who directly controls the activities of the online casino, after the start of the full-scale invasion, financed the veterans of the so-called “svo”. The online casino itself continues to operate in Russia and on Russian web resources,” the SBI claims.
Currently, a petition is being prepared for the detained nominal owner of PIN-UP to choose a preventive measure in the form of detention.
UPDATE 01/10/2025 6:09 PM
The Ukrainian licensed gambling company PIN-UP Ukraine officially declared its complete non-involvement in any illegal financial transactions and categorically rejected the accusations brought by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine against the company's owner, Igor Zotko.
"PIN-UP Ukraine emphasizes that it does not have and has never had any connections with Russian capital or sanctioned persons. We consider the accusations made to be unfounded and unsupported by evidence. We are also convinced that the actions directed against our business can be regarded as an attempt to hinder the activities of one of the largest taxpayers in the gambling industry of Ukraine," the statement says.
The company also emphasized that all rights and obligations as an organizer of gambling in Ukraine under the PIN-UP brand belong exclusively to Ukr Game Technology LLC. The ultimate beneficial owner of the company is Igor Zotko, who alone manages the company.
In early December, the Prosecutor General's Office reported suspicions to three Russian citizens who are the beneficial owners of an illegal online casino, as well as two Ukrainians — the director and the owner of the trademark and domain. They are accused of collecting information, in particular, information about the whereabouts of the military Defense Forces. According to Ukrainska Pravda's sources in law enforcement agencies, the casino in question was PIN-UP.
In 2023, it was reported that the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries would apply financial sanctions to LLC "Ukr Game Technology" (PIN-UP brand). The size of the fines was not specified, as was the specific reason for the punishment. However, later a message appeared that this was about the presence of Russian control over the activity, and that this information was allegedly not confirmed .
In December 2024, the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv on December 19 elected a preventive measure for the head of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) Ivan Rudom. He will be held in pre-trial detention until February 4, 2025 without the right to post bail.
"This is complete nonsense and very carelessly fabricated accusations that have no basis, no meaning, and no causal connection at all," Rudy commented on the court's decision.
