Ukraine Shuts Down Illegal Online Casino with $82M Crypto Link to Russia

Ukraine’s security services have blocked an illegal online casino after discovering $82 million in cryptocurrency transfers to Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that the perpetrators had a hierarchical management vertical headed by Russians. Ukrainian citizens in the criminal group were responsible for sourcing offices and personnel, along with advertising, and computer equipment.

Ten individuals – five each from Ukraine and Russia – have been charged with various offences under Ukraine’s Criminal Code. Gambling was legalised in Ukraine in 2020 after more than a decade of being outlawed following a deadly fire at a gambling hall in Dnipropetrovsk, in which nine people died.

Since President Voldymr Zelensky passed the law, more than a thousand illegal and unregulated sites have been shut down by the authorities in conjunction with KRAIL, Ukraine’s Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries. KRAIL’s boss, Olena Vodolashko, told local media recently that they are reinforcing their efforts to crack down on Russian entities in the gambling space.