Natus Vincere’s in-game leader and Major winner, Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, is facing serious tax fraud charges in his home country.
Finnish Counter-Strike star Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen has been charged with aggravated tax fraud. The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported on the story yesterday evening.
The case has been initiated in the Eastern Uusimaa District Court. The alleged financial crimes took place between May 19 and September 22, 2020, in the city of Vantaa. The Finnish Tax Administration is listed as the injured party, and the case is scheduled for a court hearing this coming April.
When contacted for comment, Aleksib declined to discuss the pending legal proceedings but did confirm that the matter relates directly to income earned from competitive gaming.
For international readers, the report originates from a major Finnish daily newspaper called Iltalehti. Despite its tabloid format, it is a legitimate and highly credible source for official court reporting.
The Complexity of Esports Taxes
Aleksib’s situation echoes a recent case in Denmark, where a former tier-1 Counter-Strike player received a suspended prison sentence and a large fine for failing to report foreign salary and prize money earned between 2014 and 2020.
Speaking directly about the complexities seen in that Danish case, esports lawyer Dan Dahl Rahimian (@techadvokaten) explained that the international nature of the industry often leaves young players vulnerable to tax mistakes.
“As an esports player, you almost need an accountant to do things correctly,” Rahimian noted.
He highlighted that years ago, even tax authorities struggled to classify earnings like prize or sticker money. Because young players, often between 15 and 25 years old, travel constantly and lack the administrative support seen in traditional sports, tax compliance is rarely top of mind. Rather than deliberate tax evasion, Rahimian attributes these historical cases to a chaotic lifestyle and a lack of early guidance.
“It is my perception that none of them do it on purpose, but rather due to a lack of knowledge,” he concluded.
