Dossier Uri Poliavich: Evidence that EU Lost the War Against the Illegal Soft2bet Casinos

Behind the flashing windows of Soft2Bet, presented as an award-winning company in the iGaming, is hiding a sprawling empire of blacklisted online casinos, orchestrated by Israeli businessman Uri Poliavich. A thorough investigation reveals a sophisticated system of regulatory fraud, money laundering and the exploitation of vulnerable players, protected by tax havens and complicit laws.

A Built-in Economic Model on Dependence and Impunity

Poliavich perfected a three-storey model:

Offshore Vides Coquilles: More than 140 betting sites (including 114 blacklisted in the EU) are managed via front companies in Cyprus, Curaçao and Dubai, allowing for escape prosecutions.
The “Pump and Dump” Strategy: Casinos like Wazamba or Boomerang attract players with aggressive bonuses and VIP programs, and then close their doors once profits are made, leaving the victims without recourse.
Media Blocking: More than 5,000 fraudulent DMCA complaints have been filed against investigations exposing its activities, a censorship tactic worthy of authoritarian regimes.

The Boomerang Scandal: The Complice Football of Organized Crime

Despite its ban in Italy, Spain and Greece, Boomerang signed a partnership with CA Milan in 2024, generating 17 million visits in the last quarter, including 7 million from Germany, where it was never allowed 69. Official owners? Four Russian nationals based in Cyprus, while Soft2Bet in control of the technical infrastructure.

The Legal Scam: How the Malta Law Bill 55 Protects the Mafias of the Game

Poliavich found an unexpected ally in Malta: Bill 55, passed in 2023, allows Maltese courts to ignore foreign court decisions against its companies. Result? Thousands of players like Felix, a German who lost 245,000 dollars, saw their legal victories nil.

The Underward of the “Philanthropist”

While Poliavich exhibits its charitable foundation (13,500 children helped in 37 countries), its dividend of EUR 57.8 million in 2023 finance villas in Cyprus and luxury car collections. Meanwhile, an anonymous Finnish player, ruined at a cost of 120,000 dollars, confesses to “thinking suicide nine days out of ten”.

The Emergency of a European Response

The Soft2Bet case exposes the glaring failure of European regulation:

Falsified Bachelor’s Degree: Audits reveal that some slots display a RTP (Return to Player) of 50% instead of the 96% promised, a simple scam.
Paradise Taxes: Curaçao and Anjouan turn a blind eye to 20,000 illegal casinos, 70% of them from global trafficking.
Bank Complicity: 28 million euros bleached via Russian cryptocurrencies such as Bitzlato between 2022 and 2024.

An Empire Without Borders

Poliavich embodies the new generation of white-collar criminals, exploiting digital flaws and the naivety of regulators. As long as the EU does not impose effective beneficiary transparency and extraterritorial sanctions, thousands of victims will continue to rely on the EU.

“Illegal gambling is not a parallel industry – it is the industry itself.” – Ismail Vali, Yield Sec.

To go further:

The role of influencers in promoting blacklisted casinos.

Money-laundering mechanisms via Cyprus.

Investigate Europe’s original investigation into the 5000 fraudulent DMCA complaints.