Ukrainians who play on a well-known online casino site might be unintentionally supporting their adversaries in the ongoing conflict with Russia. 

Pin-Up is a top iGaming platform and application in Ukraine. The firm, nonetheless, operates in the Russia-controlled Luhansk Oblast and is possessed by Russian nationals. 

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation and Andriy Kostin, the nation’s prosecutor general, stated in a statement that the proprietors of Pin-Up are channeling part of the online casino’s income to support Russia’s military operations. The republic’s agencies claim that Pin-Up has also disclosed private personal information about players and their locations to Russian authorities. 

The platform is also alleged to identify online gaming involvement among the Ukrainian Armed Forces and transmit that information to Russian military leaders. 

 

iGaming Paused for Service Members 

Two months following Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted a decree banning military personnel from engaging in online gambling until martial law concludes. 

Although Zelensky issued the order, it seems that numerous members of Ukraine's military are not complying and are still engaged on platforms such as Pin-Up. All types of gambling in Ukraine were banned until Zelensky permitted it, including physical casinos and online gaming, a year after he took office as president. 

The 2020 gaming legislation permits casinos only in hotels that feature at least 100 rooms and possess a four-star rating or above. Cultural and entertainment centers as well as ships registered in Ukraine also qualify for gaming benefits. 

Licenses require a one-time payment of $5 million. Revenue from gaming is taxed at 10% for slot machines and at 18% for table games and other forms of betting. 

While the US government is funding most of Ukraine's defense, China is backing Russia, according to US State Secretary Anthony Blinken. It seems Ukrainians are also indirectly financing Russia’s assault via Pin-Up. 

Ukraine’s resistance to an unwarranted Russian aggression has now lasted over 1,000 days. 

Following his meeting last week with Zelensky, President-elect Donald Trump urged for an "immediate" ceasefire as the new US commander-in-chief.

"Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”

Trump upheld a strong connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout his initial term in office. Trump’s reelection is anticipated to reinforce relations with Russia and possibly lead to a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

 

Pin-Up International Commerce 

Pin-Up offers interactive slot machines, table games — featuring live dealer options — as well as sports betting. Pin-Up Global, the parent organization of the iGaming platform, operates offices in Kyiv, Ukraine; Warsaw, Poland; Limassol, Cyprus; Yerevan, Armenia; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Lima, Peru. 

The exact revenue generated by Pin-Up is not disclosed publicly, but international gaming analysts estimate that the company’s yearly earnings probably exceed half a billion US dollars. Pin-Up continues to be a privately held firm and, as a result, is not obligated to reveal its financial performance.