Elon Musk's X Sues Duel.com Founder Over Bribery and Account Hacking Allegations

Elon Musk's X Corp. has taken a stand against the operators of the crypto casino Duel.com. In a lawsuit filed on September 28, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the social media giant leveled serious accusations against Ossi Ketola, the founder of Duel and skin-gambling site CSGOEmpire. Known online as Monarch, Ketola is accused of building a network of bribery and digital manipulation to gain unfair advantages on the platform. The case is significant not just for the identity theft involved but for the targeted harassment of critics and former employees.

According to the legal complaint, Ketola and his company Immortal Snail LLC systematically attempted to corrupt X insiders. The primary goal was to gain control over high-value short usernames such as @duel, @monarch, and @castle. X claims that as early as 2024, accounts were hacked to change their recovery emails to addresses associated with CSGOEmpire operator Moonrail Limited. When X suspended these accounts, Ketola and his associates allegedly used intermediaries to offer cash for internal information and account restoration.

Numbers and facts

The monetary values mentioned in the lawsuit highlight the aggressive nature of the scheme. One X employee reportedly received $1,500 to leak internal data regarding the @monarch account. A contractor was also allegedly bribed to re-enable suspended accounts without authorization. X stated that it terminated the individuals involved upon discovery. The most staggering allegation involves a bribe attempt in October 2025, where an employee was offered $300,000 to reinstate several suspended accounts.

Beyond bribery, Ketola is accused of operating an account named @JNSAST as a militant hit squad. X alleges this account was used to harass opponents, publish private information (doxxing), and issue threats. A former CSGOEmpire product manager, known as Grizzly, who began publishing critical material about Ketola's organization, was reportedly hacked. His profile bio was changed to indicate the account had been seized by @theJNSAST, and it was subsequently used to promote the group.

"One employee was later offered $300,000 to reinstate several accounts after they were suspended in October 2025." - X Corp. Lawsuit, Texas Federal Court

Background

The dispute has a long and complex history. In March 2025, Immortal Snail finally purchased the @duel handle legally from X after previous takeover attempts failed. However, X alleges the company concealed its connection to the previously compromised accounts during this transaction. Ketola has presented a very different version of events. In October 2025, he claimed on Discord that he was under attack by the Matrix. He argued that competitors had paid X to remove his business handles just as Duel launched games with a 100% Return to Player (RTP) rate. X has now explicitly denied these claims in its federal complaint.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, this case highlights the massive risks associated with unregulated crypto casinos like Duel.com and skin-gambling sites like CSGOEmpire. These platforms do not hold a license from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) and operate outside the legal framework of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021. While legal German online casinos must adhere to strict player protection rules, including a 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit and a 1 Euro per spin limit, offshore sites often operate in a lawless environment.

Users of such platforms are not only risking their money on unclear RTP rates but may also be supporting organizations that, according to this lawsuit, use criminal methods like bribery and hacking. German players should strictly follow the official GGL white-list. Only there are data security and prize payouts monitored by German authorities and systems like LUGAS. An operator involved in such global manipulation does not provide a trustworthy gaming environment.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For reputable GGL-licensed operators in Germany, this scandal serves as a validation of their strict compliance strategies. While international crypto operators try to force their reach through social media manipulation, German providers rely on transparency and state oversight. The case demonstrates that the GGL is correct to warn against illegal black-market offerings, as these are often linked to dubious business practices that go far beyond gambling itself.