Kazakhstan Seeks Three Ukrainians in $1 Billion Online Casino and Crypto Scheme

Kazakhstan's Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has initiated a search for three Ukrainian nationals, identifying them in a wanted database. The individuals are Ivan Shevchenko, Olena Suvorova, and Vadym Gordiivskyi. While specific charges remain undisclosed, media reports have frequently linked Gordiivskyi and Suvorova to a significant online casino operation dismantled in December 2025.

The FMA reported at the time that it had broken up an online casino scheme that utilized "gray" terminals and fictitious contracts to disguise payments as legitimate transfers. The scale of these illegal operations was estimated to exceed 600 billion tenge, equivalent to approximately $1 billion. Furthermore, the scheme involved an affiliate program that accepted and processed funds in cryptocurrency, with a turnover surpassing 200 million USDT (Tether).

Following the FMA's announcement, foreign media outlets began connecting Olena Suvorova and Vadym Gordiivskyi to the case. Ukrainian media, including Vlasti, identified Vadym Ivanovych Gordiivskyi as a key organizer of the "mix-coding" scheme, a method used to conceal the true purpose of financial transactions. Reports suggest he allegedly operated through the Kazakh company Marginplus, with Suvorova acting as an accomplice.

Another Ukrainian portal, Antikor, stated that Kazakh law enforcement had significantly disrupted illegal financial schemes by freezing accounts and halting transactions for Marginplus. This organization was reportedly a central component of a money laundering system established by Ukrainian citizens, including Gordiivskyi, Larysa Ivchenko, and Suvorova. Their activities were allegedly focused on processing and legalizing profits from Russian online casinos, such as Redcore and Pin-Up, for their owner, Dmitry Punin.

According to Antikor, Gordiivskyi previously held a high-ranking position in Ukraine, serving as the deputy head of the Boryspil District Administration in the late 2000s. The FMA's investigation has led to over 70 searches, with nine individuals already in pre-trial detention, including a senior manager from the Association of Payment Organizations. Eight other foreign organizers are also slated for the international wanted list.