Ukrainian prosecution fails to recover millions from Pokermatch.UA

Sanctions and a legal quirk: why the Ukrainian prosecution failed to recover millions from Pokermatch.UA

The Ukrainian prosecution has failed in its dispute with LLC "Pokermatch.UA" — the court rejected the claim to recover 6 million hryvnia from the company for an unpaid licence.

Background
In 2021, the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL) issued "Pokermatch.UA" a five-year permit to organise online poker. However, two years later, the company was placed under sanctions by the National Security and Defence Council, which blocked its operations in Ukraine.

Despite this, prosecution representatives filed a claim with the Kyiv Commercial Court demanding the recovery of fees for the third year of the licence's validity.

Court ruling
The judge ruled that due to the sanctions, the company was unable to legally conduct its business. Consequently, the claim for payment for the use of the licence was deemed unfounded.

Context
LLC "Pokermatch.UA" is linked to the well-known company "Parimatch" through co-owners Kateryna Beloruska and Serhiy Portnov, whose shares are registered via WELPAY MEDIA HOLDING LIMITED.

What next?
This case highlights the complexities of law enforcement in the context of sanctions. On the one hand, sanction measures restrict the company's activities, but on the other, they cast doubt on the legitimacy of financial obligations to the state.

While the prosecution seeks ways to appeal the decision, the "Pokermatch.UA" case demonstrates how sanctions can create legal conflicts where neither the state nor the business achieves the desired outcome.