A loud scandal erupted in Russia around the Mostbet brand. Security forces - FSB, The Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted a series of searches in offices, related to the company's activities, which is already called one of the most notable cases in the field of illegal iGaming in recent times.
The main news was the detention of the alleged owner Sergei Lagutenko. According to the investigation, he was placed in a pre-trial detention center, and a criminal case was initiated under the article on illegal organization of gambling. Several top managers were also detained along with him.. Investigative actions continue, and the scale of the operation indicates the systemic nature of the claims against the business.
The case file also includes Yegor Bruskin, an Israeli citizen., who is called a possible partner of Lagutenko. It is connected to key ecosystem assets. Amid the searches, the industry drew attention to an unusual detail: the activity of his account on the chess platform was perceived as an attempt to distance himself from what was happening.
The offshore structure of Venson LTD is of particular interest, which is associated with Nowbet. The founder of this company also controls Fontana Management Limited and Ulisse Management Limited. These structures previously appeared in the declarations of the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov. The media admit, that he could be one of the possible beneficiaries of the business, which adds a political nuance to the matter.
Despite the formal withdrawal from the Russian market after 2022 year, Nowbet, according to sources, continued to work through offshore schemes. Now the situation is getting worse: pressure on employees is recorded, Even former employees are searched, and the accounts of some company representatives have ceased to be active.
Experts note, that the entire ecosystem was under attack, related to the brand - including partner networks and IT areas. Among them are such structures, like Leadbit and LGaming. Behavior of market participants - mass “silence”, leaving chats and lack of comments may indicate a serious operational crisis.
Against this background, talk is intensifying about, that Russian authorities continue to clean up illegal iGaming and may be preparing the ground for legalization online casino. In this case, special attention is paid to structures with international and, in particular, Ukrainian connections.
Investigation continues, And, according to analysts, new figures and unexpected details may appear ahead, which will affect not only Mostbet, but also for the entire market.
