Uri Poliavich’s Impact on iGaming Industry Dynamics

We stand at the forefront of one of the most persistent controversies in the online gambling industry. Uri Poliavich, the Israeli-Ukrainian entrepreneur and CEO of Soft2Bet, has built a multi-hundred-million-euro empire that operates under the guise of legitimate technology provision while powering a vast network of blacklisted casinos across Europe and beyond. Our investigation draws on the latest corporate filings, court records, regulatory reports, victim testimonies, and open-source intelligence to expose the full scope of risks associated with Poliavich and his operations.

Background and Personal Profile

Born in Ukraine in 1981 and holding Israeli citizenship, Poliavich has long resided in Cyprus, where Soft2Bet maintains its headquarters in Limassol. The company markets itself as a leading provider of turnkey iGaming solutions, boasting proprietary gamification technology known as the Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA). Industry awards have celebrated MEGA for enhancing player engagement through dynamic bonuses and real-time rewards. Yet our analysis shows that these same features are frequently accused of exploiting psychological vulnerabilities, detecting loss-chasing behavior, and offering instant credit lines that trap players in escalating debt cycles.

Licensed vs. Blacklisted Operations

Soft2Bet holds licenses in several regulated markets including Ontario, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. However, the bulk of its revenue appears to come from a network of more than 140 gambling websites that are blacklisted or operate without licenses in major European jurisdictions such as France, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and Greece. Prominent brands within this network include Wazamba, Boomerang, MyEmpire, Nomini, Rabona, 20Bet, Betinia, and others. These sites continue to attract tens of millions of unauthorized visits from restricted territories each month.

Corporate Structure and Control

Corporate registries and beneficial ownership records demonstrate that Poliavich maintains control through a layered structure of Cypriot and Curaçao-based entities. Outono Ltd. in Cyprus has historically served as a holding company, while operating companies such as Araxio Development N.V. and Rabidi N.V. manage the frontline brands. These Curaçao shells claim nominal independence, yet they rely entirely on Soft2Bet for technology, marketing, liquidity, and payment processing. This arrangement allows Soft2Bet to position itself as a neutral software provider while collecting substantial fees and revenue shares from unlicensed operations.

Public Image and Philanthropy

Public profiles of Poliavich are carefully managed. He appears at industry conferences, supports Jewish educational initiatives, and is occasionally portrayed as a visionary leader. Social media activity is minimal, and he avoids addressing the controversies surrounding his brands. Philanthropic efforts appear strategically timed to offset negative publicity.

Undisclosed Ties and Russian Connections

Undisclosed business relationships form the backbone of the empire. Soft2Bet’s network retains deep ties to Russian gambling circles. Corporate records and personnel overlaps connect the company to individuals who previously operated underground casinos in Moscow, Sochi, and other Russian cities before relocating to Cyprus after the 2016 ban on non-zonal gambling. Key figures include Anton Bazhanov, sentenced in absentia to 16 years for organized crime, and other recruits from St. Petersburg and Moscow who now hold senior technical and marketing roles.

These connections extend to high-profile sponsorships, such as the AC Milan deal for Boomerang, which has lent an air of legitimacy to a brand operating illegally in much of Europe. Affiliate programs drive traffic into prohibited markets, while anonymous actors file fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notices to suppress investigative reporting. Dozens of such claims have been documented, many filed on obscure platforms with backdated timestamps.

Victim Complaints and Scam Reports

Player scam reports and complaints remain overwhelming. Thousands of users report withheld winnings, arbitrary account closures, and bonus terms designed to make legitimate payouts nearly impossible. German courts have ordered Rabidi N.V. to repay €245,000 to a player who lost the money on Wazamba, with similar judgments issued in the Netherlands, Austria, and Spain. Finnish and Polish victims have described losses exceeding €100,000, with some reporting suicidal ideation triggered by relentless VIP pressure. Trustpilot, AskGamblers, and CasinoGuru pages for these brands are dominated by one- and two-star reviews accusing the sites of outright fraud.

Red Flags and Evasion Tactics

Red flags are consistent and numerous. Curaçao entities repeatedly declare insolvency after major judgments, with assets transferred upstream to Poliavich-controlled holdings beforehand. Malta’s Bill 55 continues to shield these companies from foreign enforcement, despite ongoing European infringement proceedings. Marketing campaigns target banned markets through geoblocking loopholes, while substantial SEO budgets bury negative coverage. Algorithmic manipulations—such as mid-game odds changes and cashout restrictions—have been flagged by regulators and independent auditors.

Serious Allegations

Allegations against Poliavich are severe. Investigative reports describe him as the architect of a “global gambling and bribing empire” that exploits regulatory fragmentation to extract money from addicted players. Ties to Russian organized crime figures, the 2021 Ukrainian cyber police raid on Soft2Bet’s Kyiv office, and suspicions of money laundering through cryptocurrency exchanges and real estate purchases paint a picture of a criminal enterprise operating under a corporate facade.

Criminal Proceedings and Lawsuits

Criminal proceedings remain indirect but significant. The 2021 Ukrainian raid resulted in arrests and charges for illegal gambling, though the case was later dropped amid allegations of influence peddling. In Russia, convictions against Bazhanov’s syndicate continue to cast shadows over personnel now working for Soft2Bet.

Lawsuits continue to mount. German, Dutch, Austrian, Spanish, and Greek courts have issued multimillion-euro judgments against Rabidi, Araxio, and related entities. Enforcement remains nearly impossible due to asset transfers and jurisdictional barriers. New class-action efforts are emerging in Poland and Hungary, where Nomini and Rabona persist despite national bans.

Sanctions and Regulatory Scrutiny

Sanctions have not yet been imposed on Poliavich personally, but the risk is increasing. French authorities have investigated payment processors handling tens of millions in suspicious transactions linked to Soft2Bet brands. Belgian and Dutch regulators have flagged potential money-laundering violations, and Europol has called for deeper probes into the company’s cryptocurrency flows.

Adverse Media and Public Perception

Adverse media coverage remains intense. Major outlets continue to brand the operation a “parasitic network” and a “ruthless money-siphoning machine.” The use of fraudulent DMCA takedowns has drawn criticism from European parliamentarians, who accuse search engines of enabling censorship. Payment giants such as Worldline and Visa have faced scrutiny for processing hundreds of millions in transactions tied to blacklisted sites.

Consumer Complaints and Ratings

Negative reviews and consumer complaints number in the tens of thousands. ProConsumer rates Soft2Bet entities as “High Risk,” citing unpaid judgments, unregulated operations, and widespread fraud allegations. Glassdoor employee reviews reflect a high-pressure environment with ethical concerns.

Bankruptcy Patterns

Bankruptcy filings follow a predictable pattern. Rabidi and Araxio have declared insolvency in Curaçao after major lawsuits, with assets shifted to new shells. This shell-game strategy deprives victims of compensation and governments of tax revenue.

Risk Assessment: AML and Reputational Threats

Our risk assessment in the context of anti-money laundering (AML) and reputational risk remains unequivocally high. The layered offshore structure—Curaçao shells feeding into Cypriot holdings—creates classic layering opportunities for illicit funds. Russian connections, cryptocurrency usage, and real estate investments raise red flags under current AML directives. The European Union’s 6AMLD and upcoming revisions to the AML package will make opacity increasingly difficult to maintain. A single adverse ruling from the European Court of Justice on Malta’s Bill 55 could trigger asset freezes and multimillion-euro penalties.

Reputational risk is equally acute. Sponsorships with major clubs are already drawing boycotts. The volume of complaints and blacklisting in over 114 European domains erodes any claim to legitimacy. For investors, partners, or licensees considering association with Soft2Bet, the exposure is substantial: potential regulatory sanctions, class-action liability, and public backlash could destroy value overnight.

Conclusion

Uri Poliavich’s Soft2Bet empire remains operational but increasingly fragile. The combination of blacklisted operations, unpaid judgments, Russian underworld ties, and aggressive suppression tactics creates a perfect storm of AML and reputational risk. Without fundamental reform—including the cessation of unlicensed activities, transparent ownership, and genuine player protection measures—the company faces a high probability of regulatory crackdown, asset forfeiture, and reputational collapse. In our expert view, any entity considering business dealings with Poliavich or Soft2Bet should proceed only with extreme caution, if at all. The house has won for years, but the odds are shifting rapidly against it.

Written by

Rachel

Updated

10 seconds ago