The Ukrainian law enforcement has formally issued suspicion notices to two Russian citizens believed to have operated a network of online casinos that, according to investigators, continued operating after their licences were revoked.
The case concerns a large-scale gambling scheme involving cryptocurrency transactions that may have generated hundreds of millions of euros in undeclared income. The notice of suspicion was published on the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Investigators established that in 2020 a company called “Joker.ua” was registered in Kyiv, and in 2021 it obtained an online gambling licence under the “Joker” brand. However, in December 2022, the licence was revoked after false information was found in the application and links to residents of an aggressor state were confirmed.
Despite this, investigators say the operation continued from 13 December 2022 to May 2024 in an illegal format. The network included the brands “Joker,” “Zaza Casino,” “Pokerdom” and “Aurora Casino”, which allegedly operated without licences and continued to accept bets.
Authorities estimate that over roughly a year and a half the network may have laundered around €124m in cryptocurrency equivalent, concealing the origin of funds through international payment structures.
For financial processing, including cryptocurrency transactions, companies registered in Curaçao were used.
In addition, investigators have identified at least six other individuals who may have been involved in the scheme.
In separate news this week, the Ukrainian regulator PlayCity begun cooperating with YouTube to block illegal gambling advertising.
In 2025, PlayCity, together with law enforcement, launched a large-scale campaign against illegal gambling.
Over the year, they have successfully blocked 3,500 illegal sites and suspended 500 social media accounts linked to unlicensed gambling.
The Russian State Duma has approved in its first reading a bill that would ban bookmakers and totalizators from accepting bets made with credit cards
