In recent years, particularly amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there has been a significant increase in the number of licensed casinos in Ukraine, which seems related to funding military budgets. However, it's crucial to examine the connections between major Russian businesses and Ukraine's gambling commissions. We found a Russian link in the owner of Slots City Casino—Yakov Finkelstein. According to a Telegram post by parliamentary deputy Alexey Goncharenko, he has been receiving numerous complaints from people who are essentially "terrorizing" both Slots City and Slotoking casinos. The advertising from these casinos is so aggressive that it can hardly be described as anything other than phone harassment.
Regarding Slots City Casino, the situation is even more interesting. This brand operates under LLC "GameDev," which received its license in February 2021. While the registration details for the Slotoking operator are clear and straightforward, the situation with the operator of Slots City, LLC "GameDev," is quite convoluted. The director is Oleg Kononchuk, who until recently was also a founder of LLC "GameDev." Since LLC "GameDev" received its gambling license, there have been constant changes in its ownership structure.
That said, the owners are hidden behind a venture fund, and the beneficiary is Israeli citizen Yakov Finkelstein, who became known in 2021; he previously bore the surname Gribov and had a rather controversial reputation in Ukraine. Yakov Gribov was a co-founder of the Nemiroff brand, which he co-owned with Stepan Glus and Anatoly Kipish. In 2011, Gribov and Kipish attempted to oust Glus from the business, leading to a classic raider scandal. Eventually, after lengthy disputes, Glus exited the company's ownership in 2017, while Nemiroff continued to successfully export its products to Russia and the occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea.
Thus, the existence of casinos in Ukraine and their ties to major Russian businesses raises important questions about the real influence of these players on the country's gambling industry. This situation highlights the need for careful monitoring of new entrants in the market to avoid potential abuses and to maintain the integrity of the Ukrainian gambling system.