Online casino VBet strengthens its position in Ukraine

Online casino VBet is rapidly strengthening its position in Ukrainian sports. From 2023 to 2025, the brand became the title sponsor of such respected football structures as Kyiv’s Dynamo, Karpaty FC, and even the Ukrainian Premier League. Formally, this is a marketing victory. In reality, it is the active expansion of a business structure with a far from impeccable reputation.

Fanfares are sounding, but behind the scenes there are shadows

While VBet logos shine in press releases, journalistic investigations paint a different picture. The brand’s owner, Artur Grants, features in a number of media reports as a participant in schemes with signs of tax evasion, running an illegal gambling business, and proximity to Russian capital.

An investigation by StopCor indicates that behind the beautiful advertising banners, there may be billions in costs for the Ukrainian budget and multi-level money laundering schemes.

Criminal case by the Office of the Prosecutor General

In May 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine opened a criminal case against VBet Ukraine LLC. The investigation suspects the company of underpayment of taxes on an especially large scale and operating without a valid licence.

According to preliminary estimates, the damage to the state may amount to billions of hryvnia. Meanwhile, the licence cited by the company in its statements may have been either annulled or used in circumvention of Ukrainian legislation.

Real estate, Russian and Latvian trails

While tax audits are underway in Ukraine, another interesting trail has emerged in Latvia. Journalists from Kompromat.lv report on the acquisition of real estate linked to Grants’ structures. It is allegedly in this building that concerts by Russian artists are taking place, despite the sanctions rhetoric.

Moreover, the aforementioned real estate is allegedly linked to the circle of Boris Baum, a long-time player in the gambling market, and his wife, which adds a political and financial subtext to the story.

Public reaction: justifications and pressure on the media

In response to the wave of publications, VBet issued a statement in which it:

• denied any links with Russia;

• claimed the cleanliness of its business;

• emphasised that it operates under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.

However, instead of an open dialogue, the company began sending demands for the removal of journalistic investigations — which in the media environment raised even more questions about the transparency and ethics of VBet.

According to the Telegram channel "Shcho, azartnyi"