This investigation tears away the veil of respectability surrounding the Malta-Cyprus-based company Soft2Bet, exposing it as a central node in a sprawling network of unlicensed online casinos that cynically plunder European players. Behind the elegant facade of awards lies a sordid scheme of legal evasion, offshore “laundromats,” and shameless exploitation of gambling addicts on prohibited platforms. The discovery of Ukrainian citizen Denys Butko’s pivotal role in operating this shadow empire, along with alarming indications of possible ties to Russian capital, adds a bitter note to this crime, which, in the context of war, constitutes not just a felony but a betrayal of national interests.
Over 140 Wallet Corpses: The Scale of Europe’s Virtual Heist
Investigative journalists have unearthed a chilling truth: over 140 illegal online casinos, their virtual halls echoing with the cries of loss and tears of despair, are directly linked to Soft2Bet. These digital torture chambers, banned in France, Poland, Greece, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Hungary, continue to devour the savings of millions of Europeans, flouting national laws. This is merely the tip of the bloody iceberg, as Germany and the United Kingdom conceal their blacklists, leaving vast space for these virtual criminals to operate with impunity.
Despite official bans, these parasitic sites siphon millions of euros from players’ pockets, with a significant portion coming from Germany. Domain blocking has proven ineffective, and cooperation among national regulators is a pathetic imitation of enforcement. Soft2Bet, masquerading as a “technology provider,” is, in reality, the architect of this criminal network, supplying the tools for virtual robbery.
Ukrainian Traitor at the Scheme’s Core: Denys Butko – The Right Hand of the Shadow Baron
Particularly repugnant is the role of Ukrainian citizen Denys Butko in this criminal syndicate. This Ukrainian not only formally owned the key shell company Rabidi N.V., through which hundreds of millions of euros in dirty money were laundered, but also served as the right hand of shadow baron Uri Poliavich, responsible for reorganizing the criminal empire after initial setbacks.
It was through Rabidi N.V. and another key structure, Araxio Development N.V., controlled by Poliavich, that over 550 domain names of these virtual brothels were registered. Butko, enjoying Poliavich’s complete trust, became a key link in deploying this web of deceit and profiteering from human weakness. His personal ties with Poliavich, their family meetings in Ukraine, and joint business projects all point to a deep partnership in crime, which, in wartime conditions, is not just immoral but potentially a betrayal of national interests.
The Stench of Russian Rubles: Bloody Shadows Over Soft2Bet’s Empire
Questions about possible ties between Soft2Bet and Russian capital remain open, but circumstances raise serious suspicions. The registration of trademarks for illegal casinos in Dubai-a financial haven for dubious funds, including those from Russia-is a troubling signal.
Particular attention is drawn to the owners of the key platform Boomerang-four Russian citizens who openly acknowledge their involvement in this illegal structure. Given Boomerang’s massive financial flows and the citizenship of its owners, the possibility of Russian blood money flowing into this criminal scheme cannot be dismissed.
The use of offshore zones like Curaçao and Anjouan as “safe havens” for registering these virtual gambling dens also creates ideal conditions for concealing ultimate beneficiaries and the origin of funds, including those from sanctioned countries. In the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, any, even indirect, cooperation of Ukrainian citizens with business structures bearing Russian traces is unacceptable and requires thorough investigation for potential terrorism financing.
Cynicism Without Limits: AC Milan Sponsorship as an Act of Evil Legitimization
The sponsorship agreement between the illegal bookmaker Boomerang and Italian football club AC Milan is the pinnacle of cynicism and a shameless attempt to legitimize criminal activity. Despite Boomerang being banned in at least six European countries, including Italy itself, it becomes the “official partner” of a renowned football club, gaining access to a million-strong audience of fans, many of whom are vulnerable to gambling. Neither the football club nor Boomerang’s Russian owners have provided any comments regarding this disgraceful collaboration.
European Helplessness: Legislative Gaps as a Playground for Criminal Business
The reason for Soft2Bet’s impunity and its criminal network lies in the absence of unified European legislation in the field of gambling. Each EU country acts at its discretion, creating an ideal environment for predators like Soft2Bet, who exploit legal discrepancies to rob Europeans unimpeded. According to expert estimates, up to 70% of online bets in the EU are illegal, with the number of unlicensed providers reaching 6,000. Europe is drowning in its own helplessness in the face of this virtual crime.
Soft2Bet’s False Response: Cynical Denial of the Obvious
In its official response to Investigate Europe, Soft2Bet brazenly rejected all accusations, calling them “baseless” and “defamatory.” The company cynically assures its “full compliance with all applicable laws.” However, the facts uncovered by journalists indicate the opposite: Soft2Bet is the architect of a complex scheme to circumvent laws, which has operated with impunity for years, causing irreparable harm to thousands of people.
Bloody Traces of Virtual Casinos: Human Tragedies Behind the Glossy Facade
Behind the flashy banners and promises of easy money from illegal casinos associated with Soft2Bet lie shattered lives and human tragedies. Felix, who lost €400,000, a significant portion of which went into the insatiable maw of Wazamba, is just one of many examples. An anonymous player from Finland, who lost €120,000, admits to suicidal thoughts. These stories are bloody marks on the conscience of Soft2Bet and its Ukrainian accomplices.
Verdict: Harsh Reaction, Confiscation, and International Tribunal
Investigate Europe’s investigation has uncovered a blatant crime, intertwining greed, deceit, betrayal, and possibly even the financing of an aggressor country. European and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies must immediately launch a large-scale investigation into Soft2Bet’s activities and all involved individuals, including Denys Butko and any identified Russian beneficiaries.
A harsh response is required at all levels: from the immediate blocking of all illegal sites associated with Soft2Bet to the arrest and confiscation of illegally obtained assets. If ties to Russian capital are confirmed, those involved must face the severest punishment for financing terrorism and betraying national interests.
Europe cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this virtual crime. A unified and stringent policy in the field of online gambling is necessary, leaving no loopholes for criminal syndicates like Soft2Bet. The blood on virtual chips must be stopped, and the guilty punished.
1. Ukrainian Cyber Police Raid in 2020:
In September 2020, Ukraine’s Cyber Police raided Soft2Bet’s Kyiv office, uncovering a massive illegal gambling operation. The company, operating under shell entities like LLC “Data Systems Development” and LLC “Arax Development,” created at least 20 unlicensed online casinos, earning $500,000 per month. Despite seizures and a criminal case, the investigation collapsed-allegedly due to high-level corruption. Soft2Bet scrubbed mentions of the raid from the internet, deleting job postings and news reports.
2. Exploitation of VIP Programs:
Soft2Bet’s platforms, such as Wazamba, employed aggressive VIP programs that exploited players’ psychological vulnerabilities. High spenders were granted “VIP status,” receiving personal managers who encouraged continued gambling through credits and bonuses, leading to significant financial losses and emotional distress.
3. Legal Loopholes and Offshore Protections:
Soft2Bet exploited legal loopholes and offshore jurisdictions to shield its operations from accountability. By registering entities in places like Curaçao and leveraging laws like Malta’s Bill 55, which voids EU court judgments against Maltese-registered firms, Soft2Bet effectively insulated itself from legal repercussions, allowing continued operation despite regulatory actions.
+ Поки нема коментарів
Додати перший