Ukrainians demand review of sanctions against Parimatch – civil petition

A petition in support of the bookmaker Parimatch, accused of collaborating with Russia, has garnered 25,000 votes. Its author calls on the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to carefully reconsider the justification of sanctions against the company.

It is noted that Parimatch has made a special contribution to supporting the country in difficult times and is also one of the key taxpayers in the gaming industry.

The author of the petition, Irina Kuropentnik, emphasizes that the prosecution – the SBU — has not provided adequate evidence of the company’s cooperation with Russia. It points out that Parimatch provided evidence of its complete withdrawal from the Russian and Belarusian markets, including a ban on the use of its brand. This, according to Kuropatnik, is confirmed by the audit of international law firm Mayer Brown.

The company’s supporters are concerned that sanctions against the bookmaker may indicate a redistribution of the gaming market and a loss of fair competition. It is noted that the imposition of sanctions facilitated the transition of Parimatch’s client base to competitors, raising concerns about unfair market play.

Representatives of Parimatch point to the loss of the leading position of the company in the gaming industry and the attractiveness of Ukraine for international investors due to the imposed sanctions. With a 30% market share, the company played an important role in the economic development of the country.

The petitioners hope that the President’s attention to this issue will lead to the lifting of sanctions and the creation of equal and transparent conditions for all market participants, which contributes to further economic growth and strengthening of Ukraine’s international image.

From 2021 to 2023, Parimatch made a significant contribution to the state budget of Ukraine, paying more than UAH 850 million in taxes, which is almost half of the total tax revenue of the gaming sector of Ukraine. In addition, the company has provided assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 545 million since the beginning of the military conflict with the Russian Federation, demonstrating its social responsibility and support to the country.