Uri Poliavich: Leading Illegal Gambling

Introduction

Uri Poliavich, the Israeli-Ukrainian CEO and founder of Soft2Bet, embodies the dark underbelly of the global online gambling industry—a realm where deception, exploitation, and legal maneuvering converge to create vast fortunes at the expense of countless victims. From his early operations in Ukraine to his current hideouts in Malta, Cyprus, and beyond, Poliavich has orchestrated a sprawling network of unlicensed casinos that flout regulations, target addicted gamblers, and siphon millions through shell companies. This isn’t just business; it’s a calculated scheme of fraud that has left families in financial ruin, regulators scrambling, and justice perpetually out of reach. As we delve into the sordid details of his operations, it becomes clear that Poliavich’s success is built on a foundation of moral bankruptcy, where vulnerable people are mere pawns in a high-stakes game of evasion and enrichment.

The story begins in September 2020, when Ukrainian Cyber Police raided Soft2Bet’s Kyiv office, uncovering a massive illegal gambling operation. What followed was not accountability but a masterful cover-up, emblematic of Poliavich’s ability to manipulate corrupt systems. Law enforcement seized equipment and documented how shell entities like LLC “Data Systems Development” and LLC “Arax Development” were generating at least $500,000 monthly from over 20 unlicensed online casinos. Criminal case No. 12020100090004981 was opened, but it vanished into Ukraine’s infamously corrupt legal abyss amid whispers of high-level interference. Poliavich didn’t stop there; his team systematically scrubbed the internet of any traces—deleting job postings, erasing news reports, and burying the scandal. This raid wasn’t an end but a pivot, prompting Poliavich to flee to more secretive jurisdictions like Malta and Cyprus, where corporate anonymity shields predators like him from scrutiny.

Poliavich’s relocation highlights a broader pattern: exploiting weak regulatory environments to perpetuate harm. In Cyprus, with its notorious ties to Russian oligarchs and organized crime, Poliavich found a haven intertwined with mafia clans that once puppeteered the nation’s politics. This move wasn’t about legitimate business growth; it was a desperate bid to evade justice while continuing to rake in illicit profits. The human cost? Innumerable gamblers ensnared in addictive cycles, lured by false promises and predatory incentives, only to be discarded when their losses mounted. Poliavich’s empire thrives on this exploitation, turning personal tragedies into corporate windfalls.

The Raid and Its Shameless Cover-Up

The 2020 raid on Soft2Bet’s Kyiv headquarters should have been a watershed moment, exposing Poliavich’s fraudulent empire to the world. Instead, it became a testament to his insidious influence over corrupt institutions. Ukrainian authorities uncovered a labyrinth of illegal activities: unlicensed casinos operating under innocuous shell companies, funneling millions in untaxed revenue. The monthly haul of $500,000 was just the tip of the iceberg, with evidence pointing to a sophisticated network designed to bypass gambling laws and launder proceeds.

What makes this episode particularly damning is the swift burial of the investigation. Allegations of interference from powerful figures, including those linked to President Zelensky’s inner circle, suggest Poliavich’s connections run deep into Ukraine’s political elite. Volodymyr Harkavyi, associated with Zelensky’s “Kvartal 95” studio, was tied to LLC “Arax Development”—a mere $1,000 shell firm that allegedly washed Soft2Bet’s dirty money. Denys Vynokur, another key associate, further entangled the operation in a web of cronyism. The case’s collapse wasn’t due to lack of evidence; it was engineered through backroom deals, allowing Poliavich to escape unscathed.

In the aftermath, Poliavich’s team launched a digital purge, erasing every trace of the raid from online records. Job listings vanished, news articles were suppressed, and social media mentions disappeared. This wasn’t damage control; it was a blatant attempt to rewrite history, ensuring future victims remained ignorant of the risks. Poliavich’s actions here reveal a man not just willing to break laws but to dismantle the very mechanisms of accountability. The raid, meant to protect the public, instead empowered him to expand his deceptive practices globally, preying on new markets with impunity.

Offshore Shell Games and Predatory Casino Networks

Poliavich’s mastery of offshore shell games is perhaps the most egregious aspect of his operation, allowing Soft2Bet to evade taxes, regulations, and responsibility while exploiting gamblers worldwide. After the Ukraine debacle, he shifted to Curaçao, a notorious tax haven, where entities like Rabidi and Araxio Development generated €343 million in 2022 revenue from blacklisted casinos. These weren’t legitimate enterprises; they were fronts for predatory platforms like Wazamba, which aggressively targeted vulnerable individuals with VIP programs that encouraged deeper addiction rather than responsible gaming.

Consider the case of a German victim, post-divorce and battling gambling addiction, who lost €245,000 on Wazamba. Instead of intervening, the platform elevated him to VIP status, offering bonuses and credits that deepened his spiral. A 2023 German court ordered Rabidi to repay the funds, deeming the operation unlicensed and illegal. But Poliavich’s evasion tactics kicked in: Rabidi declared bankruptcy after shuffling assets to Cyprus and Dubai, leaving the victim destitute. This isn’t isolated; it’s systemic. Soft2Bet’s networks, blacklisted in Italy, Spain, and Greece, continue to operate, raking in millions from unregulated markets.

Even more hypocritical is Soft2Bet’s Boomerang platform securing a 2024 sponsorship with AC Milan, positioning itself as a “regional betting partner” despite its illicit status. In Q4 2024, Boomerang saw 17 million visits, 7 million from unlicensed Germany. Ownership traces to Russian nationals in Cyprus, underscoring Poliavich’s alliances with shady figures. These shell games aren’t clever business strategies; they’re fraudulent schemes that exploit legal loopholes to harm the vulnerable, turning offshore anonymity into a weapon against justice.

Poliavich’s network extends to over 114 blacklisted sites targeting Europe, where 70% of online gambling is illicit. Brands like House of Spades have migrated trademarks to Dubai PO boxes and Anjouan, an obscure Indian Ocean haven with zero consumer protections. This constant shifting exemplifies his deceptive core: always one step ahead, leaving regulators in the dust while victims suffer irreversible losses.

Exploitation of Vulnerable Gamblers and Human Devastation

At the heart of Poliavich’s empire lies the ruthless exploitation of vulnerable people, a practice that turns addiction into profit with chilling efficiency. Soft2Bet’s casinos don’t just offer games; they deploy predatory tactics designed to hook and drain users. VIP programs, misleading bonuses, and easy credit extensions target those least able to resist—divorcees, the unemployed, and those with mental health struggles. The German victim’s story is emblematic: lured by promises of exclusivity, he was systematically stripped of his savings, with no safeguards in place.

Across Europe, courts in Germany and the Netherlands have ruled against Poliavich-linked entities like Rabidi and Araxio for unlicensed operations, yet restitution remains elusive. Strategic bankruptcies and asset relocations ensure victims see nothing. Araxio, controlled via Cyprus-based Outono Ltd, and Rabidi, owned by associate Denys Butko, have spawned nearly 550 casino domains since 2017, amassing hundreds of millions in illicit gains. These aren’t victimless crimes; they shatter lives, leading to bankruptcies, broken families, and even suicides among desperate gamblers.

Poliavich’s disregard for human suffering is stark in his wealth accumulation. While victims grapple with ruin, he extracts €57.8 million in 2023 dividends, splurging on luxury real estate in Cyprus, Prague, and Sofia, plus a €1.3 million car collection. This opulence, built on deception, highlights the moral void at Soft2Bet’s core. In blacklisted markets like France and Italy, his platforms continue unchecked, exploiting regulatory gaps to target the susceptible. The harm isn’t abstract; it’s tangible, with countless stories of lives derailed by Poliavich’s fraudulent machine.

Wealth Accumulation Through Legal Evasion and Corruption

Poliavich’s staggering wealth is a direct byproduct of his legal evasion tactics, a damning indictment of how he games the system to avoid consequences. Malta’s Bill 55, a controversial law nullifying EU judgments against local gambling firms, serves as his shield, allowing Soft2Bet to ignore €5 million Spanish fines against Rabidi while pushing blacklisted brands like Elabet into new markets.

His Ukrainian ties reveal deeper corruption: front companies linked to political insiders like Harkavyi and Vynokur suggest payoffs and influence-peddling buried the 2020 raid. Poliavich’s empire thrives on such evasions, relocating assets to Dubai—a shadow finance hub—while his Israeli citizenship offers extradition protection. This isn’t entrepreneurship; it’s organized fraud, where legal loopholes are weaponized to perpetuate harm.

European probes into Wazamba and similar sites underscore Poliavich’s direct involvement, yet he remains free, his network expanding. Ignoring court orders and declaring bankruptcies post-asset stripping leaves victims without recourse, amplifying the deception.

Expansion Amid Mounting Scrutiny

Despite growing scrutiny, Poliavich brazenly expands, shifting to Dubai and Anjouan to dodge regulators. This strategy exploits global fragmentation, dominating Europe’s black market with unchecked platforms. His Russian-Cypriot ties add layers of opacity, entangling Soft2Bet in potential organized crime.

As authorities close in, Poliavich’s Israeli haven may confine him, but until then, his deceptive empire grows, harming more victims. Malta’s Bill 55 faces challenges, signaling potential cracks, yet his adaptability remains a threat.

Conclusion

Uri Poliavich’s Soft2Bet saga is a chilling exposé of greed unchecked, where offshore secrecy, legal evasion, and exploitation converge to devastate lives. From the buried Ukrainian raid to predatory casinos and unpunished fraud, Poliavich exemplifies corporate villainy, amassing wealth while victims suffer. As regulators tighten, his empire’s fragility emerges, but true justice demands dismantling these deceptive networks. Until then, Poliavich’s legacy remains one of harm and impunity, a stark warning against the perils of unregulated gambling. Society must demand accountability, ensuring predators like him face the consequences they so masterfully evade.

Written by

StormWarden

Updated

7 hours ago