**Ukraine Detains Director of Popular Online Casino**
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBI) has detained the director of Pin–Up, a popular online casino in Ukraine. The SBI suspects that the company’s beneficial owners and top managers are working with Russia.
**Investigation Finds Ties to Russia**
An investigation found that Pin-Up had ties to Russian representatives and entities subject to sanctions in Ukraine. The company continued to allow access to its site in Russia and Russian-occupied territories.
**Company Found Guilty of Aiding Aggressor State**
The SBI accused the director of aiding the aggressor state, Russia. This is a serious crime under Ukrainian law. The company was found to have collected personal data and information about users, including Ukrainian military personnel.
**Online Casino Seized and Assets Confiscated**
In May, the Pecherskyi Court in Kyiv seized Pin-Up’s online casino and confiscated its assets. Over 2.6 billion hryvnia ($62.5 million) was transferred to Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency.
**Background on Online Gambling in Ukraine**
Gambling was banned in Ukraine until it was legalized in 2020. However, the negative impacts of online gambling became a public discussion point in spring 2024. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree restricting online gambling and banning it for military personnel during martial law.
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