Finnish poker player and entrepreneur Ossi “Monarch” Ketola — the outspoken owner of Duel Casino — has once again become a lightning rod for controversy after both his personal and business X accounts were suspended this week. The move also extended to his earlier venture, CSGOEmpire.
Ketola, known for his brash persona and history of online outbursts, announced the suspensions during a Twitch stream and in messages to his Discord community. He framed the bans as part of a coordinated effort by competitors to suppress his latest project, Duel, which recently introduced games offering a 100% return-to-player (RTP) model.
On X, both the @Monarch and @Duel handles displayed the same message: “X suspends accounts which violate the X Rules.” The company did not specify a reason for the enforcement, according to PokerScout.
“We Are Under Attack”: Monarch Blames Rivals for Account Bans
In typical fiery fashion, Ketola addressed his followers directly during a livestream, claiming that rival gambling platforms had orchestrated his removal from X.
“Why banned? It looks like they are attacking. Just when we launch (RTP games), this happens,” he told viewers. “From what we’ve looked into … it seems that someone spent a significant amount of money to get the accounts banned. So now obviously the priority is to get them unbanned.”
He also took to Discord to rally his community, insisting that Duel’s mission would continue without him. “We are under attack,” Ketola wrote. “My Twitter account along with Empire’s and Duel’s have been banned on Twitter. This came right after we released 100% RTP games on Duel, undercutting the entire gambling industry. We are a threat to their profits.”
In a show of defiance, he concluded: “Make no mistake, we are at war. Do your part. Sound the alarm. They can take me down but they can’t take down the mission. Traditional crypto casinos WILL lose BILLIONS of dollars due to Duel, I promise you that much.”
From Poker Highs to Platform Battles
The X suspension marks another headline moment for the Finnish high-stakes player, who recently captured global attention after winning a record-setting $12.7 million heads-up poker pot against Hong Kong’s Bjorn Li — one of the largest hands in poker history.
Ketola’s growing notoriety, however, extends far beyond the felt. He has drawn heavy criticism from the poker community for his repeated use of racist language and inflammatory remarks online. Despite the backlash, his fanbase remains loyal and vocal, often echoing his combative rhetoric across social media platforms.
Following the ban, supporters quickly rallied behind the Duel founder, framing the move as an attempt to suppress innovation. One user wrote, “The online casino industry is desperately trying to protect their profits. Duel is coming for their market share. Duel is inevitable.”
Social Media Scrutiny and Industry Reactions
The timing of Ketola’s suspension has sparked discussion within both the poker and online gambling sectors. Since Elon Musk acquired X in 2022, the platform’s policies on speech have become notably more permissive. Several previously banned accounts were reinstated under Musk’s ownership, leading some to question why Ketola’s pages were targeted despite the relaxed moderation environment.
While it’s unclear whether his use of offensive language played any role in the decision, the enforcement comes amid a broader wave of content restrictions impacting poker creators and gambling advertisers. Recently, YouTube briefly suspended popular poker vlogger Brad Owen’s channel before reinstating it following widespread backlash.
Axios also reported on what it described as a “war on poker,” highlighting how both professional players and streaming personalities are facing growing pressure from regulators and major tech platforms.
Duel’s Future and the “War” Ahead
For now, Ketola maintains that Duel — his new casino project designed to challenge the traditional house-edge model — will keep operating despite his personal suspension. The entrepreneur insists the ban is temporary and vows to restore the accounts as soon as possible.
“Duel is going to continue working,” he said during his Twitch broadcast. “We will keep fighting. The lion doesn’t mind the sickness. The lion fights when they have to.”
Whether Ketola’s bold claims of industry sabotage prove true remains uncertain, but his latest setback underscores the volatile intersection of online gambling, social media policies, and personal branding. For his supporters, the “Monarch” remains a rebel innovator defying corporate interests — while critics see yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of one of poker’s most divisive figures.
