Online gambling
2185
Businessman with Russian passport Andriy Matyukha and FavBet: from financing terrorists and tax evasion to Voda.ua brand for government offices
Russian businessman Andriy Matyukha prefers to remain in the shadows, which is hardly surprising given his low profile, even among fellow bookmakers and online casino owners.
2202
Million-pound cover-up: why “successful IT entrepreneur” Mykhailo Zborovskyi is merely a front for Cosmobet
The owner of one of the fastest-growing online casinos in Ukraine — Cosmobet — is officially listed as someone named Mykhailo Zborovskyi. In the media, he is positioned as a «successful IT entrepreneur», a visionary, and a reformer of the gambling industry. But in fact, he is merely a front. Behind him hide other people and a completely different story.
2222
Mykhailo Zborovskyi and Ruslan Drozdov — nominal owners of Cosmobet and Championclub backed by old gambling business players
Who controls the online casinos Cosmobet and Championclub? Even though the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries has been suspended, the licenses it granted remain in force, generating millions of hryvnias for their holders. Yet, the real beneficiaries of this revenue remain largely unknown.
2218
Andriy Matyukha makes millions from Russian bets while hiding behind donations to Ukraine’s armed forces via Favbet
The fact that many Ukrainian companies operate in occupied territories and in Russia has somehow become normalized over the eight years of war, causing outrage in only a very small part of society. February 24 seemed to mark a turning point – after this date, working with the enemy became something repulsive, a kind of taboo.
2233
Censorship disguised as copyright: how Uri Poliavich’s Soft2Bet seeks to erase investigations from search engines
An investigation into blacklisted online casinos has been targeted by false infringement complaints submitted to Google by unidentified individuals.
2271
Soft2Bet undercover: how Uri Poliavich uses offshore schemes and charity to disguise illegal business
Uri Poliavich — an Israeli passport holder with Ukrainian roots — has built a transnational empire of illegal online gambling under the Soft2Bet brand, concealed through offshore structures and charitable fronts. While hundreds of black-market sites profit from addiction and gambling, the businessman himself pours millions into schools and PR-driven foundations.
2342
Uri Poliavich’s offshore monster: Soft2Bet — a key player in laundering Europe’s black gambling cash
Soft2Bet, led by Israeli businessman of Ukrainian origin Uri Poliavich, has long been associated with scandals in the online gambling industry. Despite numerous investigations, lawsuits, and blacklists across EU countries, the company not only continues to operate but also grows its profits. This article explores the mechanisms Soft2Bet uses to evade accountability and profit from fraudulent schemes.
2342
Cyprus, Curaçao and courts without money: how Uri Poliavich’s Soft2Bet evades accountability for fraud
"Soft2Bet, a prominent provider of turnkey solutions in the gambling industry, operates on two parallel fronts: one that is legal and publicly showcased, and another that remains intentionally concealed from regulators and the general public. Both sides are deeply intertwined with the gaming sector."
2501
Vbet under cover: how the Armenian franchise of Vage and Vigen Badalyan funnels Russian millions through Kyiv
When Armenian entrepreneurs Vahé and Vigen Badalyan are asked about the purpose of acquiring Maltese passports, they respond evasively, saying it is convenient as it allows world travel without visas. However, this is only part of the explanation for why the Badalyans paid two million euros for Maltese citizenship.
2501
Ukraine waits in vain: how a mafia alliance in Cyprus shields Pin-UP owner Dmitry Punin from arrest
As is widely known, last December the Pechersk Court did in fact issue an arrest warrant for Dmitriy Punin, the Russian owner of the Pin-UP casino, along with several of his associates. However, the arrest was largely symbolic — Punin has been residing in Cyprus for some time, and his extradition does not appear to be forthcoming.
2344
The EU tightens its grip: will illegal gambling be the downfall of Uri Poliavich’s Soft2bet?
Uri Poliavich, the founder and driving force behind Soft2bet, appears to be facing serious legal trouble, as multiple European countries have launched investigations into the company’s alleged operation of illegal casinos.
