1X Corp N.V. (also known as “1xBet”)
is an online gambling company licensed by the Curaçao eGaming License. It was founded in 2007 and registered in Cyprus. In 2019, they experienced considerable growth, briefly sponsoring Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC before being ousted for their involvement in illegal activities.
Initially a Russian Casino, it expanded its online presence in 2014 by partnering with ‘BookmakerPub’. It maintains operations in Malta, Cyprus and Abuja (Nigeria).
As of January 2022, 1xBet no longer appears to be located in Curaçao after filing for bankruptcy. A lawsuit against the company and its licensor remain open. The website continues to operate online.
Contents
1 Controversies
2 Criminal investigation
3 Bankruptcy
4 Sponsors
5 Alleged owners
6 References
Controversies
Following an investigation by The Sunday Times in 2019, their license was promptly rescinded by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) after revelations of involvement “promoting a “pornhub casino”, bets on children’s sports and advertising on illegal websites.”
The company is prohibited from operating in the UK, however as of 2020 continue to sponsor FC Barcelona, Seria A, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), among various other sports.
As of May 2021, 1xBet had amassed over 1,290,0000 search results on Google for the term “1xBet Scam”; it provides an affiliate system to delegate its advertising onto unwitting clients and retains its reputation as one of the world’s most controversial betting firms, featuring on Russia’s payment processor and Federal Tax Service blacklist.
The website has had its access restricted in numerous countries, including: Russia, UK, USA, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Burkina Faso, Israel, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium.
Criminal investigation
In early 2020, awareness was raised of an ongoing scam involving embezzlement and unlawful practice, highlighting attention through diplomatic channels.
1xBet’s headquarters and company roster remain largely unknown with a multitude of offshore companies, domain aliases and registrars intertwined to obfuscate operations.
1xbet domain alias listed on Google; one of thousands of gibberish “mirror” websites
In July 2020, the regional department of Bryansk revealed investigators had completed an investigation into a resident who was the cashier of an illegal online bookmaker.[citation needed]
Later in August 2020, the Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Russian Bryansk Region, released the names of the supposed creators of 1xBet. These are ”Sergey Karshkov, Roman Semiokhin” and ”Dmitry Kazorin.”
The trio are suspected of organizing the online bookmaker 1xBet, and are defendants in a criminal case, with penalty of imprisonment. A number of estates in Russia with a total value of 1.5 billion rubles were seized.
The UK has put them on the international wanted list – all three have Cypriot citizenship.
In 2021, Parlan Law Firm announced a search for victims of 1Xbet in Russia. The company has organized a service for filing applications to the investigative committee. They filed a lawsuit against the owner of the Russian version of 1Xbet – bookmaker 1XStavka.
Bankruptcy
In November 2021 1xBet’s subsidiary company, 1хCorр MV, filed for bankruptcy in a Curaçao court after it refused to refund a group of gamblers represented by the foundation for curaçao gaming victims, SBGOK[permanent dead link].
The individuals state that 1xBet structurally deniеs the legitimate wins of players with millions of euros in unpaid winnings.
On 10 December 2021, the SBGOK foundation appealed this decision and subsequently filed a complaint against Cyberluck, its licensor, which operates under the name ‘Curaçao e-Gaming (CEG)’, as well as the Gaming Control Board in Curaçao.[citation needed]
“According to SBGOK, the company is not only partly responsible for the frаud by 1xBet. The foundation claims that Cyberluck also actively cooperates in flouting the rules against money laundering by 1xBet”.
The Curaçao court has yet to decide on the appeal, although the issue reached Parliamentary questions in Netherlands.
Sponsors
In May 2022, 1xBet signed an agreement to become the title partner of esports organisation Team Spirit.
On 1 August 2022, Paris Saint-Germain announced 1xBet as their new regional partner in Africa and Asia.
Alleged owners
Karshkov, an ex-police major and head of the “K” department of the Internal Affairs Directorate for the Bryansk region – was granted Cypriot citizenship in 2020 by obtaining a “Golden Passport” through substantial investments in the country. Alongside Russian billionaire Semiokhin and Kazorin, all three have fled to Cyprus to avoid Russian prosecution.