PlayCity Revokes PIN-UP License Over Russian Ties

The newly operational Ukrainian gambling regulator, PlayCity, has taken decisive action by revoking the license of the PIN-UP online casino due to its ties with the Russian Federation. 

“Eradicating Casinos with a Russian Footprint”, a Priority 

The casino’s website is now inaccessible. In a statement, the Ministry of Digital Transformation highlighted this move as a key achievement. 

“The first results of PlayCity’s work — PIN-UP was deprived of its license. Eradicating casinos with a Russian footprint is one of PlayCity’s priority tasks,” the ministry said.

Before PlayCity’s establishment, licensing decisions were often made by individuals, a process the Ministry described as “one of the most corrupt stages in the gambling industry.” 

The new agency has automated licensing to remove human bias and increase transparency. 

“PlayCity automates the process to eliminate the human factor and make the industry transparent and controllable,” the Ministry added.

Serious Allegations 

The crackdown on PIN-UP comes amid serious legal allegations. The Prosecutor General’s Office has accused the beneficial owners of operating an illegal online casino, including two Ukrainians, a director, and the owner of the trademark and domain, for allegedly gathering sensitive information, including military troop locations.

Following this, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 344/2025, enforcing National Security and Defense Council restrictions against Dmytro Punin, the owner of PIN-UP. 

Last December, Pin-Up Global’s chief executive officer, Marina Ilina, rejected allegations about ties to Russia while defending its partner in Ukraine.

In January, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) detained Igor Zotko, the nominal owner, who reportedly maintained contact with the actual Russian proprietors while living in Cyprus. 

Later, the SBI also detained PIN-UP’s director, charging him with aiding the aggressor state. Investigations revealed connections between PIN-UP and Russian entities subject to Ukrainian sanctions.

Ex-KRAIL Head, Suspected of Collaborating with Russia

Meanwhile, Ivan Rudoy, former head of the disbanded Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL), faces suspicion of collaborating with Russia. He was arrested in December 2024, but his detention expired on May 26. 

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s unicameral parliament, unanimously approved a bill in December 2024 to liquidate KRAIL, replacing it with PlayCity to improve regulation. 

Despite this, Rudoy had earlier dismissed the liquidation plan as illogical, calling it a pretext to address gambling issues in the Armed Forces and the lottery sector.

In March 2025, the government formally created PlayCity to oversee gambling and lotteries. 

Previously, KRAIL had denied Russian control over the PIN-UP brand, even though sanctions were under consideration. Additionally, reports emerged that the financial company owning PIN-UP profited millions from commissions on public services, raising further questions about its operations.