The first high-profile decision of PlayCity: Pin-Up was deprived of its license
4 June 05:42
The new state agency of Ukraine PlayCity, created to regulate the gambling business, started its activities with a high-profile step – the revocation of the license of the online casino PIN-UP, which is associated with Russian interests. This was reported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, according to
PlayCity: a new regulator with clear goals
In March 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine established the state agency PlayCity, which replaced the liquidated Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL). The new regulator, which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, received expanded powers to fight illegal operators and ensure transparency in the gambling industry.
One of the key tasks of PlayCity is to automate the licensing process, which eliminates the human factor and minimizes corruption risks.
Previously, decisions on license issuance were made manually, which created conditions for abuse.
“Before the launch of the state agency, the decision to issue licenses was made by a person – it was one of the most corrupt stages in the gambling industry. PlayCity automates the process to eliminate the human factor and make the industry transparent and controlled,” the company said in a statement.
PIN-UP license revocation: the first step to clean up the market
on June 3, 2025, PlayCity announced the revocation of the license of PIN-UP online casino, which is suspected of having ties to Russia and laundering Russian money.
“PlayCity is already showing real changes in the industry and setting clear rules of the game – the agency has revoked the license of the Russian casino PIN-UP to operate in Ukraine. This is the first step towards the formation of a transparent and fair market with no place for companies associated with the aggressor country,” the Ministry of Digital Transformation said.
As a reminder, on February 14, the State Bureau of Investigation detained the director of the PIN-UP online casino, which is suspected of laundering Russian money. The detainee is charged with aiding the enemy.
What is known about Pin-Up’s activities in Ukraine
The casino has been operating in Ukraine since 2021 under a license from the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries.
Law enforcement officers suspect Pin-Up of money laundering through cryptocurrencies and circumventing sanctions against Russia. The investigation found that from January 2022 to February 2024, Pin-Up transferred more than UAH 170 million to the Russian company Guruflow Team LTD for license fees. The total volume of suspicious transactions during this period exceeded UAH 714 billion.
In August, as part of an investigation into money laundering schemes “involving a number of business entities licensed to organize online gambling,” the court seized funds in casino accounts and transferred them to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency.
In October, the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv canceled the seizure of UAH 2.6 billion of Pin-Up online casino. The National Asset Recovery Agency then turned to the State Bureau of Investigation for a new arrest.
As reported by
