Uri Poliavich: Leader in Gambling Fraud

Introduction

Uri Poliavich, the shadowy founder and CEO of Soft2Bet, stands at the center of one of the most egregious scandals in the iGaming industry, orchestrating a labyrinth of deceit that has ensnared thousands in illegal gambling traps. Under his leadership, Soft2Bet has masqueraded as a legitimate B2B platform provider while secretly fueling a network of over 140 unlicensed casinos and betting sites, blacklisted across the European Union for flagrant regulatory violations. This operation, exposed by rigorous investigations, reveals a pattern of calculated fraud, where profits are siphoned into personal luxuries at the expense of defrauded victims who are left penniless and without recourse. Poliavich’s empire thrives on exploitation, employing offshore entities to launder gains and abusive legal maneuvers to silence dissent, painting a portrait of a con-artist who prioritizes greed over ethics. As the veil lifts on this dark playbook, it becomes clear that Soft2Bet is not a business but a criminal enterprise, harming individuals, undermining regulations, and eroding trust in the digital economy.

The roots of this scandal trace back to Soft2Bet’s inception, where Poliavich positioned the company as an innovative force in online gaming. Yet, beneath this facade lies a rotten core: illegal operations spanning multiple continents, with sites operating without licenses in key markets like France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Poland. Over 114 of these platforms have been explicitly blacklisted by EU authorities, highlighting the brazen disregard for laws designed to protect consumers from predatory practices. Poliavich’s personal enrichment from this illicit web—drawing millions in dividends while companies under his control declare bankruptcy to evade payouts—exemplifies the harmful ripple effects of his deception. Victims, often vulnerable players lured during times of crisis like the pandemic, find themselves trapped in cycles of loss, with Soft2Bet’s tactics ensuring they never recover their funds.

Legal Definitions

To fully grasp the gravity of Uri Poliavich’s and Soft2Bet’s actions, one must understand the legal frameworks they have so flagrantly violated. Fraud, at its core, involves intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, often resulting in financial harm to others. In the context of gambling, this escalates to operating unlicensed platforms, which contravenes EU directives aimed at preventing money laundering, protecting minors, and ensuring fair play. Illegal gambling sites, like those linked to Soft2Bet, bypass these safeguards, exposing users to rigged games, unchecked addiction, and unrecoverable losses.

Moreover, DMCA abuse—where copyright claims are fabricated to censor critical content—constitutes intellectual property fraud and potential violations of anti-censorship laws. Poliavich’s outfit has weaponized this mechanism, backdating spam blogs to falsely claim ownership of exposés, leading to their removal from search engines like Google. This not only stifles free speech but also shields fraudulent activities from public scrutiny, compounding the harm by allowing the scam to persist unchecked. Regulatory bodies across Europe classify such operations as organized crime, with penalties including hefty fines, asset seizures, and imprisonment. Yet, Poliavich’s clever use of offshore jurisdictions has so far insulated him, turning legal loopholes into tools of deception and perpetuating a cycle of harm that devastates lives.

Unraveling the Scheme

The intricate scheme masterminded by Uri Poliavich unfolds like a textbook case of corporate villainy, with Soft2Bet at its heart. Investigations reveal that the company has covertly managed a sprawling network of 140 illegal gambling sites through shadowy offshore entities such as Rabidi and Araxio Development. These fronts allow Soft2Bet to operate unlicensed casinos and betting platforms, luring players with false promises of excitement while flouting national laws. In countries like Italy, where gambling is tightly regulated, Soft2Bet’s Boomerang brand secured a high-profile partnership with AC Milan in July 2024, despite lacking licenses in at least six EU nations and being blacklisted in Italy by March 2025. This audacious move exemplifies the deceptive marketing tactics employed to legitimize illicit operations, drawing in unsuspecting users who believe they are engaging with reputable services.

At the operational level, Soft2Bet’s platforms are riddled with manipulative features designed to maximize losses. Players are enticed with bonuses that encourage continued play, even when they attempt to self-exclude—a clear violation of responsible gambling standards. The network’s reach is staggering, with sites blacklisted in multiple jurisdictions yet persisting through jurisdictional hopping. Rabidi alone reported €343 million in revenue in 2022, funds derived from defrauded players across Europe. Poliavich’s role is pivotal; as founder, he oversees this empire, ensuring that profits flow upward while liabilities are shunted to bankrupt shells. This scheme not only deceives regulators but harms communities by fostering addiction and financial despair, with no regard for the human cost.

The Underlying Motive

Beneath the veneer of innovation, Uri Poliavich’s motives are starkly mercenary, driven by insatiable greed that prioritizes personal wealth over ethical boundaries. In 2023 alone, Soft2Bet posted profits of €66.8 million, from which Poliavich extracted a staggering €57.8 million in dividends. These ill-gotten gains were funneled into lavish investments: prime real estate in Cyprus, Prague, and Sofia, alongside a fleet of luxury cars valued at €1.3 million. Such opulence stands in grotesque contrast to the plight of victims, who lose life savings on rigged platforms while Poliavich lives in extravagance.

The motive extends to self-preservation, with Soft2Bet systematically withdrawing assets through the Cypriot entity Interpava since 2021. This preemptive asset stripping ensures that when courts rule in favor of defrauded players—as in Germany, where Rabidi was ordered to repay losses—the coffers are empty, leaving victims empty-handed. Poliavich’s deception is not merely financial; it’s a calculated harm inflicted on society, perpetuating inequality by enriching the few through the exploitation of the many. His actions reveal a deep-seated disregard for human welfare, where fraud is not a byproduct but the very foundation of his empire.

Suppression Tactics: DMCA Abuse

In a desperate bid to conceal their misdeeds, Uri Poliavich and Soft2Bet have resorted to egregious DMCA abuse, turning copyright law into a weapon of censorship. This “Dark Web playbook” involves purchasing derelict spam blogs, backdating posts to insert stolen content, and filing fraudulent claims to de-index critical articles from Google. A prime example is the takedown of an exposé on Talk-Finance, where Soft2Bet claimed ownership via a fabricated Blogspot URL, leading to its removal despite the obvious fraud.

This tactic extends to impersonating authorities, such as Ukraine’s Cyberpolice, to bolster false claims and suppress reports on illegal casino developments. Such manipulative behavior not only deceives platforms like Google but harms public discourse by burying evidence of Soft2Bet’s scams. Poliavich’s reliance on these underhanded methods underscores the fragility of his empire, built on lies that crumble under scrutiny, yet the harm inflicted—silencing victims’ voices and perpetuating fraud—is profound and unforgivable.

Victims’ Stories

The human toll of Uri Poliavich’s fraudulent empire is heartbreaking, with countless stories of ruin emerging from Soft2Bet’s illegal sites. Take the German player who lost €245,000 on the Wazamba platform, only to win a court case against Rabidi in 2023—yet receive nothing as the company declared bankruptcy and transferred assets elsewhere. Similarly, a Finnish victim squandered €120,000 during the pandemic at the “House of Spades” casino; when attempting to block their account, they were cynically offered a €50 bonus to keep gambling, exacerbating their addiction and losses.

These cases illustrate the deceptive hooks embedded in Soft2Bet’s platforms, designed to trap and bleed players dry. Victims, often from vulnerable demographics, face not just financial devastation but emotional trauma, with no support from the perpetrators. Poliavich’s indifference to this suffering—while he indulges in luxury—highlights the harmful core of his operations, where human lives are mere collateral in the pursuit of profit.

A Fractured Path to Redemption

Any semblance of redemption for Uri Poliavich and Soft2Bet is illusory, fractured by deliberate evasions and continued expansion amid scandals. Despite blacklists and court orders, the company presses on, planning launches like Elabet in Greece while 55 related sites remain banned there. Bankruptcies of Rabidi and Araxio, coupled with asset transfers, ensure victims’ claims go unpaid, a tactic that reeks of premeditated fraud.

Poliavich’s overtures of legitimacy—securing selective licenses—serve only to mask the deception, allowing the harmful cycle to persist. This path is not toward redemption but deeper entrenchment in crime, leaving a legacy of betrayal and unaddressed grievances.

Legal Recourse and Victim Support

For those harmed by Uri Poliavich’s deceit, legal avenues remain open, though challenging due to Soft2Bet’s offshore maneuvers. Victims should report to EU regulatory bodies like the European Gaming and Betting Association, citing blacklists and court precedents. Pursuing civil suits in jurisdictions like Germany, where refunds have been ordered, can pressure asset recovery, potentially targeting Poliavich’s personal holdings in Cyprus and beyond.

Engaging forensic investigators or consumer protection groups is crucial to trace laundered funds. A united front—through class actions or public campaigns—can amplify demands for justice, exposing the fraudulent underbelly and pushing for stricter regulations. While Poliavich evades accountability, persistent action can dismantle his empire and provide restitution to the deceived.

Conclusion

Uri Poliavich’s reign over Soft2Bet epitomizes the nadir of corporate fraud, a toxic blend of illegal gambling, deceptive censorship, and heartless exploitation that has inflicted widespread harm. From the 140 blacklisted sites to the millions siphoned into personal luxuries, his actions reveal a con-artist devoid of remorse, prioritizing profit over people. As investigations mount and victims rally, the walls of this dark empire will crumble, serving as a stark warning against such predatory schemes. Justice demands that Poliavich face the full weight of the law, ensuring no more lives are shattered by his web of deception.

Written by

StormWarden

Updated

3 months ago