Cosmolot Casino Owner Accuses Ukrainian Officials of Corruption and Extortion 

^{Pictured: Arnulf Damerau}

Arnulf Damerau, co-owner of the Ukrainian online casino Cosmolot and one of the largest private Western investors, has publicly addressed a criminal case against his company. As reported by the Financial Times, the case accuses Cosmolot of tax evasion and violating national gambling laws.

Damerau asserts that the real catalyst behind the allegations against his Ukrainian enterprise isn’t legal infractions, but rather corruption among officials.

He disclosed that Ukraine’s security services and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration have allegedly extorted tens of millions of euros from him.

Adding to the intrigue, Damerau recounted a meeting he had in Austria last December with a Ukrainian citizen. This individual purportedly informed Damerau that the criminal case against Cosmolot would be dismissed if the Anglo-German businessman ceded control of 50% of the company to an offshore trust.

Following the meeting, Damerau claims to have relayed the details, including the names of those implicated, to American and European security services.

It’s worth noting that Cosmolot encountered legal troubles in October 2023 when it was revealed that the company’s office had been searched. Subsequently, a criminal case was opened against the online casino, and in February 2024, the company’s accounts were frozen by authorities.

Cosmolot, which began accepting bets in the Ukrainian market in 2021, ranks among the country’s top ten largest taxpayers. In 2023, the company paid €60 million in taxes.