The SBI detained the director of the online casino «PIN-UP», who is suspected of laundering russian money

The employees of the SBI detained the director of a company, that was operating in Ukraine as a brand of online casino "PIN-UP".

During the investigation, it was established that the real owners of that commercial structure, which received a license to conduct activities for the organization and conduct of casino gambling on the Internet, are citizens of the russian federation.

The detainee was served notification of suspicion of aiding the aggressor state. A petition for the election of the preventive measure in the form of detention is being prepared.

The pre-trial investigation continues. It is being documented the involvement of other persons under investigation by the Bureau, whose circle is being established.

It should be reminded, that as part of the investigation of the activities of this online casino, the employees of the State Bureau of Investigation and prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General in cooperation with the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine revealed the facts of aiding the representatives of this company to the aggressor state.

In particular, the connections of online casinos with representatives of the russian federation, sanctioned entities in Ukraine have been documented, and financial flows have been established in the interests of filling the aggressor's budget and supporting activities related to armed aggression against Ukraine.

The employees of the SBI conducted a set of procedural measures, including technical ones, with the involvement of relevant experts, who confirmed the negative consequences for the combat capability of the Defense Forces of Ukraine through the use of the services of this online casino.

As part of the investigation, it was also established that the persons associated with the activities of online casinos conduct their economic activities on the territory of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic", thus filling the enemy's budget.

In addition, the person directly controlling the activities of online casinos, after the start of a full-scale invasion, financed veterans of the so-called "special military operation".

During the pre-trial investigation the SBI established, that the online casino continues its activities in russia and russian web resources.

Previously, within the framework of the proceedings, on the basis of the collected evidence, notifications of suspicion were served to the Chairman and member of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries on the facts of aiding the aggressor state and illegal production, manufacture, purchase, storage, transportation or shipment of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues without the purpose of sale.

Also, notifications of suspicion were served to the actual beneficial owners of the online casino, the nominal owner and persons associated with activities of the casino, in particular the owner of the trademark and domain name. Some of those persons are on the wanted list. In January 2025, the SBI detained the nominal owner of the online casino «PIN-UP».

For reference, the court has satisfied the request of the SBI and the Office of the Prosecutor General about the transfer to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) more than UAH 2.6 billion, that were seized from the accounts of the online-casino that is associated with representatives of the aggressor state.

By the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 05, 2024 No. 1088-p, the purchase of the bonds of the domestic state loan "Military Bonds" was approved by ARMA. It should be made at the expense of the funds mentioned above, in the amount of UAH 2 billion. Moreover, it has to be noted that those bonds have already been working to support our defense capability and economy.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.