Crypto Casino-Backed Duel Arena Under Fire After Nazi Salutes, Swastika Flag at Combat-Sports Event

A combat-sports promotion backed by controversial offshore crypto casino Duel is facing a backlash after Nazi salutes, a swastika flag, and antisemitic abuse marred its inaugural event at Orlando’s Kia Center.

Duel Arena 1, held Saturday (August 29), featured a kickboxing bout between Paul “GypsyCrusader” Miller, an internet personality notorious for racist and antisemitic content, and Jewish influencer Ben Azoulay.

Miller, who, despite his Romani heritage, has described himself as a neo-Nazi, won by split decision before using an antisemitic slur to describe his opponent over the arena PA system. Miller called Azoulay a “short little f—ing Jew prick.”

Video from the event also showed Nazi salutes, while a spectator displayed a large swastika flag before being removed from the city-owned venue.

USA Today reported that “numerous” fights broke out among the crowd, with some audience members being escorted from the building.

The scenes have prompted condemnation from Orlando officials, lawmakers and the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida.

Orlando Venues, which operates the Kia Center, said in a statement that it “unequivocally” condemned racism, discrimination and messages encouraging violence. It said the flag was removed as soon as staff became aware of it.

Miller has built an online following through racist and antisemitic content and previously served federal prison time on firearms charges. Federal prosecutors have said he advocated for a “race-based civil war.”

Who Is Behind Duel Arena?

The controversy has also drawn attention to the unusual gambling operation behind the fledgling fight promotion, which also used racist language in its coverage of the event, calling Black fighter Patrick Clark Jr.a “chimp” in a now-deleted post on X.

Duel Arena is linked to Duel.com, a cryptocurrency casino and sportsbook founded by Finnish gambling entrepreneur and high-stakes poker player Ossi “Monarch” Ketola.

Ketola previously founded CSGOEmpire, a gambling platform where users can wager virtual items associated with the Counter-Strike video game, known as “skins.”

Duel.com, launched in 2025, is operated by Nevis-registered Immortal Snail LLC under a gaming license issued in Anjouan, Comoros.

The company has been criticized for its marketing tactics, which include the circulation of shock-value videos bearing the casino’s watermark.

The precise corporate relationship between the casino and fight promotion is unclear. Florida Athletic Commission records list “Ryan Toole Inc. DBA Duel Arena” as the licensed promoter for Saturday’s event.

However, Duel Arena has been publicly presented as a Duel-backed venture, while its official social media account promoted the event alongside Duel.com.

Betting on Its Own Event

Duel.com also offered betting markets associated with Duel Arena 1 through its sportsbook, with the event appearing in a dedicated “Duel Arena” section under “Duel Specials.”

If Duel was involved in creating and branding the promotion while also offering betting markets on the event, that could raise questions about safeguards and integrity, although there is no suggestion any of the contests were improperly influenced.