The company has developed an innovative mobile application that provides convenient games and personalized rewards access. From a small role in a payment terminal company, Igor Zotko grew into a significant entrepreneur, showcasing companies impacting the country’s economy and social life. «As an international holding, we have significant experience in effective interaction with government agencies of various countries. The sanctions imposed by the Ukrainian authorities after unfounded accusations against our partner in Ukraine and the start of the trial were, unfortunately, expected. Unfortunately, in recent years, the sanctions mechanism in Ukraine has been increasingly used as a tool for pressure on business — and this applies not only to the gambling sector,» Ilyina said. Don’t you think that the leadership of the State Tax Service, represented by the newly appointed Ruslan Kravchenko, should stop the chaos within the gambling market in Ukraine?
On PIN-UPʼs work during the war and the companyʼs charity initiatives
KRAIL, which issued the license to Pin-Up, is accused of condoning violations, and the lack of effective control allows the company to continue operating despite criminal cases and debts. No evidence could be related to Russian citizens’ control of the company’s activities after the inspections conducted by law enforcement agencies. In addition, this information was refuted by the judicial system, which dismissed the lawsuit against the news agency that disseminated the false information. The issuance of the license for Pin UP did not violate the law, and the references to the owners from Russia were found to be unreliable. 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. Before that, he was in Cyprus and met with the real owners of the online casino — Russians.
Pin-up casino licenses
After that, I realized that I either had to stop playing or organize something similar myself. Who would have thought that a random thought would materialize almost 20 years later? 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. Then I worked for a gambling company, where I reinforced my knowledge with practice.
It is an example of systemic corruption that permeates the gambling business and poses a threat to national security. Ties with Russian beneficiaries, withdrawal of funds abroad, collection of personal data and tax evasion – all of this demonstrates the need for immediate reforms in the field of gambling regulation. The company plans to take legal action to prosecute the media for spreading false information. PIN-UP Ukraine vehemently denies the accusations of receiving commissions for payments through the public services portal and the Diia app. Representatives of the company claim that its activities fully comply with the rules and laws governing the online gambling industry in Ukraine. Gambling became legal in Ukraine just recently, with the adoption of the relevant law in 2020.
PIN-UP ownership structure
For some reason, the list does not include Pin-UP online casino, which was created by Russians. We financially help the Foundation to implement the LINE-UP humanitarian project, which provides emergency assistance to Ukrainians in frontline settlements. Volunteers travel to remote de-occupied areas, where there are often no shops, and help the locals with everything they need. In addition, the Foundation participates in the restoration of cultural monuments and purchased a generator for the Kharkiv subway to ensure its operation. The gambling sector of Ukraine paid UAH 23.4 million in license fees and UAH 247.8 million in taxes in 2022, which shows a significant contribution to the state budget. The industry does not stop functioning, saving jobs despite the most challenging times.
Pin-Up: How casinos evade taxes, withdraw millions and threaten Ukraine’s security
- At the beginning of his journey, he was a project manager, where he gained essential skills and knowledge that eventually allowed him to take key positions in the industry.
- These are separate activities that have me as the owner – the only thing in common.
- Many would also be interested in his investments in innovative areas such as esports, tech startups, and blockchain.
- Thus, the entrepreneur can boast commercial understanding and a vision of developing the country’s entertainment industry, moving on to Pin-Up Ukraine online casino.
The example of the largest online casino operator in the country, as well as its owner Igor Zotko, shows the development of the industry even in harsh conditions. Having a clear state policy with responsible leaders in this activity area, there are many ways to grow and maintain transparency. Igor Zotko, COO of PIN-UP Ukraine, shared his thoughts on the dynamics of the online gambling market and support for the economy during martial law.
And the online casino still operates on Russian territory and on Russian web resources. The State Bureau noted that PIN-UP’s ties with representatives of the Russian Federation and entities subject to sanctions in Ukraine were documented. A relatively young and fast-growing Pin-up project started its existence in 2016. Pin-up casino is headquartered in Cyprus, and the ecosystem of this platform is very extensive.
It also contains rules regarding users that the gambling company must adhere to when providing services.All the basic information about the Pin-Up license can be found on this page. According to the SBI, the suspect stayed in Cyprus for a long time, where he maintained contacts with Russians who are the real owners of the online casino. The SBI statement emphasizes that the investigation has documentary evidence of PIN-UP’s ties to Russian representatives, Russian capital, and sanctioned entities in Ukraine. There have been no major changes in the Ukrainian branch of the online casino since the beginning of the war.
Financial flows were also established in the interests of filling the Russian budget and supporting armed aggression against Ukraine. PIN-UP appeared in Ukraine at the end of 2020, even before the official legalization of gambling in the country. Nowadays, the company’s representatives justify their activities by claiming that they worked under an international license. Despite its young age, the gambling club managed to gain a lot of credibility among Ukrainian gamblers.
Pechersk Court Orders Billions to Be Returned to Russian Casino
- The individuals involved in the online casino activity are filling the Russian budget by conducting economic activities in the part of the Luhansk region temporarily occupied by militants controlled by the Russian Federation.
- Zotko and PIN-UP actively deny the allegations, claiming that they have never had any ties to Russian capital or sanctioned individuals.
- This is an important step in the investigation that may shed light on the real ties of Pin-Up online casino to Russia.
- The gambling sector of Ukraine paid UAH 23.4 million in license fees and UAH 247.8 million in taxes in 2022, which shows a significant contribution to the state budget.
- First, it is necessary to put an end to legislative changes and ensure equal rules for all market players.
The group of Hetmantsev and the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Pyshnyi, has spread a system of kickbacks and cover-ups that is long overdue for destruction. Formally registered in Ukraine, PIN-UP is part of a global brand created by Russian citizens. The founders include Alexander Matyashov, Ivan Bannikov, Dmitry Punin, and Marina Ilyina.
The amazing synchronicity in publications is https://pinupgame.in/ not limited to news on websites. Telegram channels, in particular those with a large audience, such as Monaco Battalion, Trukha, All-Seeing Eye, and many others, also joined the campaign. From the very first weeks, our employees started volunteering, buying necessary items and sending humanitarian aid to the regions most affected by the war, where there was no food or water. In addition, we received specific requests from the soldiers we knew personally and their units, and we also met those needs. Gaming is entertainment, and what kind of entertainment can we talk about during a war? In the global context, the Ukrainian market demonstrates courage, activity, and prospects.
Thirdly, banks should treat gambling business the same way as all other businesses. There are a number of banks that are not ready to work with the gambling business in terms of acquiring. 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. PIN-UP Ukraine is a Ukrainian online casino that was one of the first in the country to receive an operating license. 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.
And when the gambling market was legalized, it turned out that there were few participants and there was room for new players if you didnʼt think long. At that time, I knew the owner of the PIN-UP brand and recommended a non-core investor to choose this brand for development in Ukraine. And in 2022, I received an offer to officially lead the project, which I later acquired. Pin-Up online casino operates through a web resource, the technical support of which is provided by the Cyprus-based company GURUFLOW TEAM LTD, controlled by Russian citizens. The Pin-Up scandal is not just a story about a tax debt or a violation of license conditions.
Ukr Game Technology LLC, operating under the Pin-Up brand, has been in the spotlight for its multimillion-dollar tax debt, suspicions of aiding Russia, and illegal operation of online casinos. The company continues to fully comply with the regulations despite the market situation stirred up by the presidential decree on sanctions, demonstrating the challenges for some gambling participants. To obtain this license, the project is required to provide several confidential information to check for fraudulent users. In addition to the prestigious license, the mentioned platform introduces independent measures. Their list includes the use of only reliable providers, legal payment systems, audits, and much more. Therefore, users can not worry about the reliability of their data and funds.
The latter even filed a lawsuit against KRAIL, which sought to prohibit it from considering the revocation of the license. The head of KRAIL, Ivan Rudyi, ignores appeals and requests from the media and MPs and simply hides from this topic. 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. Perhaps someone thinks that in this way they can close one of these companies to their advantage, which is very doubtful for me, because regulatory authorities have no questions to my companies. Igor Zotko strongly emphasizes the importance of expanding the range of games and developing mobile applications to attract new users.
After the full-scale invasion, these individuals officially withdrew from the shareholding, but evidence points to their actual influence on the business. Our number one priority then was to protect our employees, especially those in the cities where the offensive began. We evacuated them to the central and western regions, guaranteed them stable salaries, and made one-time payments to some of them. In addition, we delivered power banks and EcoFlow charging stations to our employees. These are separate activities that have me as the owner – the only thing in common.