Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions against the owner of the Russian casino Pin-Up

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The license for organizing and conducting online casino gambling was issued to UKR GAME TECHNOLOGIES LLC by the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries in 2021. On December 18, the head of CRGL Rudyi was detained in Ukraine for supporting the activities of the Russian online casino Pin-Up in Ukraine. On December 5, it became known that the State Bureau of Investigation suspects the beneficial owners and top managers of the Pin-Up online casino of aiding Russia. Before that, he was in Cyprus and met with the real owners of the online casino — Russians. In January of this year, the SBI arrested the nominal owner of the “PIN-UP” online casino. The online casino itself continues its operations on Russian territory and Russian web resources, as confirmed by the Bureau during the pre-trial investigation.

The information and analytical portal Fakt is an independent online resource focused on informing and objectively analyzing events taking place in Ukraine and abroad. There is documentary evidence of this casino’s connections with Russian capital, sanctioned entities in Ukraine, and representatives of the Russian Federation. By information RBC-Ukraine, we are talking about the owner of “PIN-UP Ukraine” Igor Zotko.

In addition, the war has been a serious challenge for the Ukrainian gambling business over the past 19 months. All materials, including photographs, contained on this site are protected by copywright law and may not be reproduced without the prior written permission The detained individual has been informed of the suspicion of assisting the aggressor state. The appendix to the decree states that personal sanctions were applied against three Russian citizens — the owner of Pin-Up Dmitry Punin, Ivan Bannikov and Alexander Matyashov. Ensure compliance with your local/state laws before playing.

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This document allows online gambling and betting services, as well as INR transactions. It will be recalled that earlier the court granted the request of the SBI and the Prosecutor General’s Office to transfer to ARMA more than 2.6 billion hryvnias seized from online casino accounts. The investigation established that the detainee could not legally contribute UAH 30 million to the authorized capital of the company that received the license. At the request of the prosecutors, more than UAH 2.6 billion, which are on the accounts of the companies involved in organizing the activities of this online casino, were seized and transferred to the ARMA. According to the investigation, the suspect contributed UAH 30 million to the authorized capital of a legal entity engaged in organizing online gambling, the origin of which has not been legally confirmed.

• In addition, the war has been a serious challenge for the Ukrainian gambling business over the past 19 months.
• They form requests for the units they serve in, and the company fully or partially closes them.
• Anastasiades became president partly thanks to Demosthenous’s support, whose gangsters quickly dealt with political and business competitors of their friend and protégé when needed.
• Punin derives his main income from laundering and legalizing funds obtained from Pin-UP’s online casino operations.

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Punin derives his main income from laundering and legalizing funds obtained from Pin-UP’s online casino operations. Iʼm already used to information attacks on my businesses, where Yedynyi Prostir is profiting from charity or Iʼm allegedly the owner of a Russian PIN-UP casino. I delved into the topic of gambling business that requires payment processing, different types of casinos, lotteries, and also came to realize the philosophy of players, their motivation and goal in the game. The law of July 14, 2020, which defined the functioning conditions for the gambling market in Ukraine, solved the main problem – gambling has come out of the shadows and become more open to public. Could you tell us how the law that legalized the Ukrainian gambling market affected the industry?

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Cypriot law enforcement and Limassol customs, naturally, “saw nothing and heard nothing.” Everyone was pleased. Anastasiades became president partly thanks to Demosthenous’s support, whose gangsters quickly dealt with political and business competitors of their friend and protégé when needed. The cream of Limassol, including lawyer Theophanis (Phanos) Philippou, partner of the law firm Nicos Chr.

The court arrested the deputy prosecutor of the Zaporizhzhia region for a $40,000 bribe

We respond within 48 hours and aim to resolve all cases within 30 business days. Providing its services in India, Pin-Up operates on the principles of legality. The license held by Pin-Up India confirms the site’s commitment to providing a safe, fair and transparent gaming environment.

The investigation also revealed that individuals connected to the casino’s activities are conducting business operations in the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LNR), thus contributing to the enemy’s budget. 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. Established firmly in the online betting market since 2016, Pin-Up confirms its commitment to transparency and safe gambling.

And the online casino still operates on Russian territory and on Russian web resources. The person directly controlling the online casinoʼs activities, after the start of Russiaʼs full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sponsored Russian veterans who fought against Ukraine. Law enforcement officers have documented the connections of this online casino with representatives of the Russian Federation and Russian capital, as well as with entities subject to sanctions in Ukraine. According to the investigation, the real owners of this casino are Russians. pin-up casino india In addition, the court has granted the SBI and the Office of the General Prosecutor’s request to transfer over 2.6 billion UAH, which were seized from the accounts of the online casino connected to representatives of the aggressor state, to the management of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). Additionally, the individual directly controlling the online casino’s operations has been financing veterans of the so-called “special military operation” since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

• The detainee stayed for a long time in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, where he communicated with Russian citizens – beneficial owners of online casinos.
• Iʼm already used to information attacks on my businesses, where Yedynyi Prostir is profiting from charity or Iʼm allegedly the owner of a Russian PIN-UP casino.
• First, it is necessary to put an end to legislative changes and ensure equal rules for all market players.
• No licensed product can compete when almost half of the market is in the shadows and pays players large bonuses, tax-free winnings, and other perks.
• At the beginning of 2021, the Commission for Regulation on Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL), the state regulator of the gambling market, issued the first licenses to companies that wanted to conduct business openly.

Information about PIN-UP Ukraine

Demosthenous, already known as a person controlling nightclubs, illegal casinos, brothels, and car dealerships, won this war of the nineties. Perhaps Russian special services, with which Punin is accused of having connections, helped. Regardless, by 2019 Dmitriy Punin arrived in Cyprus as a wealthy man with a clear understanding of what and how he would do, and with agreements with some of the most influential people in Cyprus, among them Stavros Demosthenous, about business assistance. The son, after a foolish act (Punin, in 2001, robbed a grocery store with peers), apparently wised up and began actively engaging in business and establishing necessary connections.

The SBI detained the nominal owner of the online casino “PIN-UP”

It was established thatthe real owners were Russians who collected data on users and financed the LNR. Despite being wanted in Ukraine, Turkey has also joined the list of countries seeking Dmitriy Punin, where his search is also related to the illegal activities of the Pin-UP casino. Everything else — elite restaurants, wine boutiques, entertainment venues, and the football club — are covers for this activity and a way to distract attention from suspicious financial flows. In 2022, Dmitriy Punin acquired the Cypriot football club “Karmiotissa.” However, by late 2023, after a series of scandals linked to suspected match-fixing, he sold the club to business partner Stavros Demosthenous.

The investigation found that the detained nominal owner did not have legal sources to contribute 30 million hryvnias to the authorized capital of a company with a license to organize gambling. In January 2025, law enforcement officers detained the nominal owner of the online casino “Pin-Up”, who is suspected of laundering Russian money. The SBI notes that the nominal owner of a company operating in Ukraine under the brand name of PIN-UP online casino has been detained. Law enforcement officers have detained the nominal owner of the online casino PIN-UP, which is suspected of laundering Russian money.

It’s known that Dmitriy Punin invested money received from the gambling business into several hotels belonging to Stavros Demosthenous. The lawyer of the affected businessman openly claimed that top officials in the prosecutor’s office were covering illegal property seizures and even named the bribes that the prosecutors received. A Russian businessman residing in Cyprus anonymously stated that Stavros is involved in every Russian-owned business in Limassol — “Dig into any company and you’ll find Stavros there.”

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Secondly, we need to reduce taxation levers that are currently insane and hinder market development – offline segment has the most difficult situation. First, it is necessary to put an end to legislative changes and ensure equal rules for all market players. What problems does the market face now and what is needed to make it work? Getting the industry out of the shadows was a big step forward for the market, but it did not solve all the related problems. Gambling became legal in Ukraine just recently, with the adoption of the relevant law in 2020.

Besides cars, they needed various services in their new country — from opening a bank account to assistance in business registration and operation. Punin is the owner of Pin-Up Global and the founder of PUNIN Group, a holding that is actively developing business in Cyprus. He is accused of aiding the aggressor country, including granting a license for the operation of the Pin-Up casino. Some of our employees have been taken to the frontline – the company continues to pay their salaries and provide financial and moral support.