PlayCity State Agency Revokes License of Pin-Up Online Casino Linked to Russia
The PlayCity state agency, which regulates the gambling business in Ukraine, has revoked the license of the Pin-Up online casino. The press service of the Ministry of Digital Affairs reported this.
This is the first such decision after the launch of a new automated approach to issuing licenses in the gambling sector.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs reported that eradicating casinos with a Russian footprint is one of the key priorities of the PlayCity agency.
"Before the launch of the state agency, the decision to issue licenses was made by a person – this was one of the most corrupt stages in the gambling sector," the Ministry of Digital Affairs noted.
The department added that PlayCity automates the process to eliminate the human factor and make the sector transparent and controllable.
The system will make decisions based on clear criteria stipulated by law.
PlayCity was created in March 2025 to replace the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRAIL) to regulate the gambling business.
The newly created state agency was headed by Gennady Novikov , who was previously the deputy chief of staff of KRAL.
Novikov noted that the agency plans to actively cooperate with law enforcement agencies to combat casinos linked to Russia.
- On December 5, 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation reported suspicions of Russian money laundering and aiding the aggressor state to three Russian citizens – the beneficial owners of the Pin-Up online casino, as well as two citizens of Ukraine – the director and the owner of the trademark and domain.
- On February 14, 2025, the State Bureau of Investigation detained the director of a company operating in Ukraine under the Pin-Up online casino brand.
- On May 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions against Russians associated with the Pin-Up casino.
