Two brothers to stand trial in Odesa for illegal «online poker» and laundering over UAH 12.3 million

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have completed a pre-trial investigation into two brothers. The suspects conducted unlicensed online gambling and legalized over UAH 12.3 million obtained through criminal means. The indictment has been referred to the court.

The basis for entering information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations was analytical products from the Information Analysis and Risk Management Department of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region.

The investigation established that two Odesa residents organized «online poker» via a specialized mobile application. Players transferred funds to the administrators' accounts to receive electronic tokens in exchange for their participation. Participants either won or lost funds depending on the card combinations.

According to detectives' estimates, the monthly turnover of the illegal service exceeded half a million hryvnias.

During searches at the suspects' residences in the Peresypskyi district of Odesa, detectives seized mobile phones, poker cards, chips, draft records, and a vehicle used for advertising. To ensure compensation for damages caused to the state, the court seized the confiscated property valued at over UAH 1.1 million.

The organizers were notified of suspicion of committing criminal offenses under Part 2 of Article 203-2 and Part 2 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The indictment has been referred to the court.

Operational support was provided by detectives from the Strategic Economic Protection Department of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region and officers from the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural oversight was conducted by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.