Telegram channels, in particular those with a large audience, such as Monaco Battalion, Trukha, All-Seeing Eye, and many others, also joined the campaign. “The government should consider the role of gambling as a part of the economy that can generate significant profits and ensure the development of infrastructure and other industries,” comments Igor Zotko. Many would also be interested in his investments in innovative areas such as esports, tech startups, and blockchain. His contributions to the CSGO esports team and the project to make a digital will for crypto assets reflect Zotko’s vision as an entrepreneur ready to invest in the latest technologies and trends. 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.

Hetmantsev hinted at another tax increase in Ukraine and named the reason

The company was notified of the court hearing by email and phone, but its representatives did not attend the hearing and did not provide a response. As a result, the court suspended expenditure operations until July 7, 2025, and seized the funds. 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.

You also need to understand that none of the government agencies pays the financial company, all earnings come only from administrative fees. 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.

PIN-UP ownership structure

• For 2023, the technological perfection of the project competes with the largest platforms in the field of gambling entertainment.
• We financially help the Foundation to implement the LINE-UP humanitarian project, which provides emergency assistance to Ukrainians in frontline settlements.
• As a result, UAH 2.6 billion was transferred to the management of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).
• 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.

With these funds, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the purchase of military bonds by ARMA for UAH 2 billion. The biggest question in this story is about the regulator of the Ukrainian gambling business, the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL). Having indisputable evidence that PIN-UP was controlled by the Russians, this body refused to revoke their license at the last minute and has been hiding from public comment for two months. Punin was accused of laundering millions of dollars in the EU, Ukraine, and the UK. PIN-UP appeared in Ukraine at the end of 2020, even before the official legalization of gambling in the country.

We evacuated them to https://pinup-game.in/ 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.

Detention of Igor Zotko in the case of PIN-UP online casino

The businessman emphasizes that this cooperation was based on transparency and mutual understanding. 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. Pin-up Global represents a relatively large number of projects, making the platform multilingual and popular around the world. 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.

On January 9, 2025, the media reported on the detention of Igor Zotko, the nominal owner of the PIN-UP online casino, who is suspected of collaborating with the aggressor state. Investigators claim that the actual owners of the company are Russian citizens, and Zotko had no legal sources to contribute UAH 30 million to the authorized capital of the company, which received a gambling license. Gambling became legal in Ukraine just recently, with the adoption of the relevant law in 2020. 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.

Criminal charges: from tax evasion to creation of a criminal organization

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 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.

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

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.

The investigation believes that Pin-Up is part of an organized criminal scheme that uses the gambling business as a tool for money laundering and financing activities that threaten the security of Ukraine. Currently, we have four types of payments in Diia, which are made by Yediniy Prostir. These are the army of drones, military bonds, the Presidentʼs initiative United24, and administrative payments to the state.

• However, whether this will have real consequences for everyone involved in the business remains an open question.
• These are the army of drones, military bonds, the Presidentʼs initiative United24, and administrative payments to the state.
• Investigators claim that the actual owners of the company are Russian citizens, and Zotko had no legal sources to contribute UAH 30 million to the authorized capital of the company, which received a gambling license.
• Their list includes the use of only reliable providers, legal payment systems, audits, and much more.
• The head of KRAIL, Ivan Rudyi, ignores appeals and requests from the media and MPs and simply hides from this topic.

The reputation of the project corresponds to the leading places in popularity in the sphere of gambling platforms. To date, it is almost impossible to note a vulnerable place for a Pin-up casino. Since 2016, the project has been regularly finalizing security and convenience.

Yediniy Prostir is my first independent project that I started from scratch about four years ago, compared to the casino which I acquired earlier this year. PIN-UP also uses alternative domains registered in offshore jurisdictions, which allows it to circumvent the control of Ukrainian regulators and withdraw funds abroad, including to Russia. The Telegram channel “Insider UA”, known for its pro-Russian publications and unverified information, published two posts in one hour that contradicted each other. First, there was a post saying that Zotko was actively helping the army, and a few minutes later, the news that his casino was transferring billions of hryvnias to Russia. To demonstrate the importance of business cooperation in the recovery and development of the Ukrainian economy, 15 winners will receive grants totaling UAH 5,000,000. 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.

Igor Zotko and PIN-UP Ukraine : innovations and new hard realities

In addition, the Foundation participates in the restoration of cultural monuments and purchased a generator for the Kharkiv subway to ensure its operation. I wouldnʼt call it a scandal, because to avoid asking such a question, it is enough to delve into the operational activities. First, the financial company guarantees uninterrupted payment processing because it cooperates with a number of banks, including state-owned ones. This protects the system from failures, which cannot be guaranteed by a single bank, even a state-owned one. Secondly, the price of services, Yediniy Prostir won the tender for these services, our offer was the most favorable for the customer.