Soft2Bet: A Bloody Empire of Online Casinos. How Billions of Dirty Euros Flow Through Offshore Havens, Deception, and Human Tragedies

The Kings of the Offshore Gambling Empire

Uri Poliavich, an Israeli businessman with a modest legal background in Kyrgyzstan, has created one of Europe’s largest illegal gambling networks. His company, Soft2Bet, registered in Cyprus and Malta, receives prestigious industry awards while simultaneously operating over 140 banned gambling sites.

But Poliavich’s true power lies offshore. Through Curaçao, Anguilla, the Marshall Islands, and Dubai, he controls financial flows that bypass taxes, sanctions, and court decisions.

Behind the officially brilliant facade of Soft2Bet-a company receiving prestigious awards in the gaming industry-hides a network of over 140 illegal gambling sites. Most of them are banned in Europe, but this does not prevent them from generating millions.

Who is Behind the Scheme?

Soft2Bet’s founder, Israeli businessman Uri Poliavich, created a complex system of offshore companies to evade regulation. Through shell companies in Curaçao, such as Rabidi and Araxio Development, he operated dozens of casinos that took money from players without licenses. When courts began demanding refunds, these companies declared bankruptcy, and the assets had already been transferred to other jurisdictions-the Marshall Islands, Anguilla, or Dubai.

How Does the Scheme Work?

Soft2Bet doesn’t just develop gambling software-it creates entire «turnkey» casinos for clients who then end up on regulators’ blacklists. For example, Boomerang, which became an official partner of the Italian football club AC Milan, had 17 million visits in three months despite being banned in Italy, Spain, and Greece.

Marketing Through Deception

Casinos in this network were actively advertised through affiliate programs, even in countries where they had no licenses. For example, MyEmpire Casino deliberately targeted players in France, Poland, and Hungary, where it was banned.

Human Tragedies

Behind the dry figures lie shattered lives. One German player lost €400,000, including loans and pension savings. Another, from Finland, lost €120,000 during the pandemic and confesses that he thinks about suicide nine out of ten days.

The Scheme: How the Machine of Deception Works

1. Creation of «Dead» Companies

Rabidi NV and Araxio Development are two main shell companies in Curaçao through which Soft2Bet operated casinos.

They obtained Curaçao licenses, which did not allow them to operate legally in Europe, but this did not stop anyone.

When courts (Germany, Austria, Spain) began demanding refunds to players or payment of fines, these companies were artificially bankrupted.

Example:

In 2023, a German court ordered Rabidi to return €245,000 to a player (lost on Wazamba).

But by the time of the court decision, the assets had already been transferred to other accounts, and the company itself was an empty shell.

2. Money Laundering Through Real Estate and Luxury Goods

Poliavich laundered millions through real estate in Cyprus, Prague, and Sofia.

He bought an apartment in Panama for $475,000 in the name of his partner, Ukrainian Denys Butko.

His car collection (over €1.3 million) includes a Mercedes G63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne, and Lexus LX570.

3. Circumventing Blocking: The «Hydraulics» of Domains

When one site is blocked (for example, Boomerang in Italy), it instantly moves to a new domain.

Over the past 5 years, the network has changed over 550 domain names.

Exotic jurisdictions are used: Anguilla (Comoros), where a license costs $5,000 and requires no audit.

Victims: People Whose Lives Were Destroyed

1. Felix (Germany) – €400,000 Lost

After a divorce, he became addicted to Wazamba.

The casino’s «VIP manager» specifically gave him credits so that he could continue playing.

The result: 9 loans, a canceled pension, and lifelong debt.

2. Anonymous Player (Finland) – €120,000 Lost

During the pandemic, he lost all his savings on House of Spades (one of Rabidi’s sites).

When he tried to delete his account, he was offered a «€50 bonus» to return.

«I think about suicide 9 days out of 10,» he confessed.

3. Story from Spain: How Casinos Recruit Children

In 2024, the Spanish regulator CNMV discovered that sites like MyEmpire Casino used Twitch streamers to attract minors.

Their tactics: free game «bonuses» in video games that were then converted into real bets.

Corruption and Impunity

1. Why are Regulators Powerless?

Germany: Does not publish a blacklist of casinos, so 7 million Germans play on banned sites every month.

Malta & Cyprus: Grant licenses to Soft2Bet, ignoring their connections to illegal operations.

Curaçao: Refuses to cooperate with European investigators.

2. Sports Sponsorship as a Cover

Boomerang (illegal in Italy) became an official sponsor of AC Milan.

Campobet (has no licenses in Norway and Poland) sponsored the Champions Hockey League.

3. Political Connections

In 2024, the Minister of Economy of Malta personally opened Soft2Bet’s office.

At gambling conferences, Poliavich is presented as an «industry leader,» not as the organizer of a shadow network.

Conclusion: Why Does Nothing Change?

The EU has no unified policy on gambling-each country decides for itself how to combat illegal operators.

Offshore jurisdictions remain unpunished-as long as Curaçao and Anguilla sell licenses, the schemes will continue to work.

The gambling industry lobby blocks strict laws.

As long as the money flows and regulators look the other way, Soft2Bet and similar networks will continue to ruin lives.

«This is not business. This is organized crime disguised as legal gambling.» — Benedict Quarch, lawyer, RightNow Legal

The Broader Impact on Society and the Economy

Beyond the individual tragedies, the operations of Soft2Bet and similar entities have a significant negative impact on society and the legitimate economy. The billions of euros flowing through these illegal channels represent lost tax revenue for European nations, funds that could otherwise be used for public services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Furthermore, the lack of regulation and oversight in these offshore havens creates an environment ripe for money laundering and other financial crimes, potentially destabilizing the financial system. The aggressive and often misleading marketing tactics employed by these illegal casinos can also contribute to a normalization of risky gambling behavior, leading to increased rates of addiction and its associated social costs.

The Role of Technology in Facilitating Illegal Gambling

The digital age has inadvertently provided fertile ground for the expansion of illegal online gambling empires like Soft2Bet. Sophisticated software allows for the seamless operation of numerous websites across different jurisdictions, while advancements in payment processing and cryptocurrency facilitate the movement of illicit funds across borders with relative ease. The use of VPNs and other anonymization tools further complicates efforts by regulators to track and block these activities. Moreover, social media platforms and online advertising networks, despite having policies against promoting unlicensed gambling, can inadvertently become channels through which these illegal operators reach vulnerable individuals.

The Need for International Cooperation and Stricter Regulation

Addressing the challenges posed by illegal online gambling requires a concerted effort on an international scale. Greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies across different countries is crucial for tracking down the individuals and entities behind these operations and seizing their ill-gotten gains. Harmonizing gambling regulations within the European Union could also help to close loopholes and prevent operators from exploiting differences in national laws. Furthermore, stricter enforcement of advertising regulations and increased awareness campaigns aimed at educating the public about the risks of illegal gambling are essential steps in curbing the growth of this harmful industry.