Ossi Ketola, the controversial founder of the crypto casino Duel.com, was apprehended by a police tactical unit in Helsinki on Saturday after fleeing from counter-protesters while wearing a SpongeBob SquarePants costume.
Ossi “Monarch” Ketola, 29, and his group were seen on video shouting fascist slogans as they ran away from anti-fascist counter-protesters in Helsinki before their vehicle was stopped by Finnish police tactical units.
About 300 individuals participated in the weekend rally organized by the neo-fascist Sinimusta Liike (Blue-Black Movement), with approximately 600 people attending the counter-demonstration, according to local reports. Police were present to maintain order between the two opposing groups.
Ketola, the Finnish gambling entrepreneur behind crypto casino Duel.com and skin-gambling platform CSGOEmpire, joined the rally with security personnel while broadcasting the event on Kick.
In an interview with Finnish gaming outlet NettiPokeri, Ketola mentioned attending out of curiosity about the Blue-Black Movement, acknowledging some shared political views.
Mascot Confrontation
At the event, Ketola wore the mascot costume for “Freakbob” – a variation of SpongeBob used in Duel.com branding – and approached the counter-protest with his group.
Video footage shows Ketola in the costume running through a park with his group, pursued by counter-protesters. Although Ketola claimed his group was attacked unprovoked, his footage did not capture how the altercation started.
After returning to a vehicle, Ketola, visibly shaken, vented on the stream, using severe racial slurs to describe the chasing counter-protesters.
Another video shows police surrounding the vehicle and instructing Ketola and his associates to exit with their hands up. Ketola later clarified that they were detained in a police car for about two hours before being released without charges.
Following his release, Ketola declared his intention to bring “300 guards” to his next public demonstration.
History of Extremist Content
The Helsinki incident adds to a history of controversial and extreme messaging by the casino founder. Ketola’s social media activity led to his suspension from X (formerly Twitter) in October 2025 for repeated racial slurs.
More recently, a Duel.com-sponsored sports event in Orlando on Aug. 29 sparked outrage for matching a fighter with neo-Nazi tattoos against a Jewish opponent while spectators displayed a swastika flag.
In a video posted on Sept. 1, Ketola made racially charged comments regarding genetics, suggesting that “blue-eyed people are more moral, empathetic, and trustworthy.” This, coupled with his escalating public stints, may isolate Duel.com and CSGOEmpire in the online gambling industry.