One of the many businesses displaced by the war has been PokerMatch, a Ukrainian operator of online poker rooms, which was acquired by Parimatch Tech in December 2021. 

On 20 March, at 3pm EET (1pm GMT), PokerMatch will host the Victory Cup, a one-off charity event aimed at raising money to support those facing danger and homelessness in Ukraine.  

In a statement relating to the upcoming tournament, PokerMatch commented: “From the first days, our team was busy providing safety for their relatives, their families and then joined in taking other colleagues and families out of dangerous and hot places. Now that our loved ones are safe, the company is initiating an international fundraiser. 

“Even though Ukrainians (and our PokerMatch team) are scattered all over Ukraine and the world, they want to do everything in their power to raise both attention and money for the people who suffered, and continue to suffer, in this war.” 

The tournament itself will have a buy-in of $7, with all funds raised transferred to the National Bank of Ukraine. A link to the tournament page will go live on PokerMatch's website nearer the time.

The Victory Cup has been endorsed by the All-Ukrainian Sports Poker Federation and the International Poker Federation. 

PokerMatch is one of several gambling organisations that have committed to help the humanitarian effort in Ukraine. 

Parimatch Tech, PokerMatch’s parent company, has provided a support package of UAH 60m ($2m) to the ongoing effort; Stake has donated $1m, or the equivalent of 25.63 Bitcoin; many others, meanwhile, have followed suit or perhaps even done more.