1xBet

Key Points

• Controversial Operations: 1xBet, an online gambling company, faces allegations of orchestrating fake sports matches, including those involving minors, and engaging in fraudulent practices like fake DMCA takedown scams.
• Legal Issues: The company has been banned in multiple countries, faced bankruptcy in Curaçao, and is under investigation for illegal gambling and tax evasion in Russia.
• Consumer Complaints: Customers report issues with withheld winnings, delayed withdrawals, and problematic verification processes.
• High-Profile Sponsorships: Despite controversies, 1xBet maintains sponsorships with major sports clubs like FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
• Cybercrime Allegations: The company is linked to a fake DMCA takedown scam, targeting websites to suppress negative information.

Overview

1xBet is an online gambling company founded in 2007, based in Cyprus, and licensed under the Curaçao eGaming License. It operates a franchise business model, offering sports betting, casino games, and live-streamed events to a global audience. With over 5 million monthly visitors as of 2024, 1xBet is one of the world’s largest online gambling platforms. The company has shifted focus to markets in Africa, South America, and India, but it is banned in several countries, including the UK, Russia, and Ukraine, due to regulatory violations. 1xBet is known for its aggressive marketing, including sponsorships of major sports organizations like FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Serie A, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Allegations and Concerns

1xBet faces significant allegations, including:

• Fake Sports Matches: Investigations by Bellingcat and Josimar revealed that 1xBet organizes and streams thousands of rigged amateur sports matches, some involving children as young as 14, in countries where it is banned, such as Russia and Ukraine. These matches, often featuring fake teams mimicking famous clubs, are used to attract bettors to high-margin casino games.
• Fake DMCA Takedown Scam: As reported by cybercriminal.com, 1xBet is implicated in a cybercrime scheme involving fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress negative online content about its operations. This tactic targets websites hosting critical reviews or investigations.
• Illegal Operations: Russian authorities issued international arrest warrants for 1xBet’s founders—Sergey Karshkov, Roman Semiokhin, and Dmitry Kazorin—for operating an illegal gambling hub in Bryansk, processing over £680 million in illegal bets from 2014 to 2019.
• Regulatory Violations: The UK Gambling Commission revoked 1xBet’s license in 2019 after it was found promoting a “Pornhub casino,” accepting bets on children’s sports, and advertising on illegal websites.
• Exploitation of Minors: Reports indicate 1xBet streams underage sports events, such as floorball matches in Russia, without player or guardian consent, raising ethical and legal concerns.

Customer Feedback

Customer reviews of 1xBet are polarized:

• Positive Feedback:
  • Users praise the platform’s user-friendly mobile app and wide range of betting options. One Trustpilot reviewer noted, “The interface is sleek, and it’s incredibly easy to navigate, even for someone like me who isn’t very tech-savvy. I can place bets no matter where I am, which is a huge advantage.”
  • Some appreciate the high odds and promotional bonuses, with a Philippines-based user stating, “1xBet provides fans of online betting in Philippines with the widest possible line and top odds for an exciting game.”
• Negative Feedback:
  • Many customers report issues with unpaid winnings and lengthy verification processes. A Trustpilot user warned, “They refuse to answer in a timely manner and pay winnings… I trusted 1xbet to deposit big (more than 200,000$) and place bets but I did a huge mistake!!!”
  • Another user on X claimed, “1xBet refused to pay me in 2020 after I won over 90,000ghc. They subjected me to a stressful verification process and never paid me a penny.”
  • Complaints about delayed withdrawals are common, with an Indian user stating, “Made 3 withdrawal requests of 30,000 rs each which shows it is successful on app but in reality I haven’t received.”

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risks: Bettors risk losing funds due to reported non-payment of winnings and fraudulent practices. The company’s bankruptcy in Curaçao in 2022 raises concerns about its financial stability.
• Reputational Risks: 1xBet’s association with unethical practices, such as betting on children’s sports and fake matches, damages its credibility and may deter partnerships with reputable organizations.
• Legal Risks: Ongoing investigations in Russia, Morocco, and other jurisdictions, coupled with bans in multiple countries, expose 1xBet to potential fines, license revocations, and criminal prosecutions. The fake DMCA scam could lead to further legal scrutiny in cybercrime jurisdictions.
• Operational Risks: The use of mirror websites to bypass bans in regulated markets increases the likelihood of regulatory crackdowns, disrupting operations.

Business Relations and Associations

• Sponsorships: 1xBet maintains high-profile partnerships with FC Barcelona (until 2029), Paris Saint-Germain (until 2025), Serie A, and CAF. It also sponsors the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League in the Philippines (until 2026). These partnerships persist despite controversies, though clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool ended ties after the 2019 UK investigation.
• Key Individuals: The company was founded by Sergey Karshkov (reportedly deceased in 2023), Roman Semiokhin, and Dmitry Kazorin, all of whom hold Cypriot citizenship and face Russian arrest warrants.
• Ambassadors: 1xBet has enlisted influencers like Urvashi Rautela, an Indian model with 72 million Instagram followers, to promote its brand in key markets.
• Political Ties: Investigations suggest 1xBet’s operations in Russia, such as at the Alexander Stepin football school, are linked to Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party and Gazprom, indicating potential complicity by local authorities.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Bankruptcy: In June 2022, 1xBet’s subsidiary, 1XCorp MV, was declared bankrupt in Curaçao after failing to refund gamblers, following a lawsuit by the Foundation for the Protection of Victims of Online Gambling. The company continued operations despite the ruling.
• Russian Investigation: In 2020, Russian authorities seized assets worth 1.5 billion rubles and accused 1xBet’s founders of illegal gambling, tax evasion, and ties to organized crime.
• Moroccan Probe: In 2023, Morocco’s National Judicial Police Brigade launched an investigation into 1xBet for operating an illegal gambling enterprise.
• UK Ban: The UK Gambling Commission rescinded 1xBet’s license in 2019 due to unethical practices, including bets on children’s sports and cockfighting.
• Unpaid Winnings: Numerous lawsuits and complaints allege 1xBet denies legitimate winnings, with millions of euros reportedly unpaid.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Analysis: 1xBet operates in a high-risk, ethically questionable space, leveraging aggressive marketing and high-profile sponsorships to maintain visibility despite serious allegations. Its involvement in fake sports matches, exploitation of minors, and cybercrime tactics like fake DMCA takedowns reflects a pattern of prioritizing profit over integrity. While the platform’s wide betting options and mobile app appeal to users, the prevalence of non-payment complaints and legal troubles suggests systemic issues.

Pros:

• Extensive betting markets and competitive odds attract a large user base.
• Strong brand presence through sports sponsorships enhances market reach.
• User-friendly platform with a robust mobile app.

Cons:

• Severe ethical violations, including betting on minors and rigged matches.
• Widespread customer complaints about withheld winnings and poor support.
• Legal and financial instability, with bans, lawsuits, and bankruptcy records.

Cautionary Advice: Consumers should exercise extreme caution when engaging with 1xBet due to its history of non-payment, fraudulent practices, and legal risks. Bettors are advised to use regulated platforms with stronger oversight. Businesses considering partnerships should weigh the reputational damage of associating with a company linked to cybercrime and ethical violations. Reporting issues to authorities like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is recommended for affected users.

Key Citations

• Bellingcat and Josimar Investigation: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/bellingcat-investigation-delves-into-1xbets-dark-secrets/[](https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/bellingcat-investigation-delves-into-1xbets-dark-secrets/)
• Cybercriminal.com on Fake DMCA Scam: https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/1xbet
• Wikipedia on 1xBet’s Legal Issues: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1xBet[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1xBet)
• Trustpilot Reviews: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/1xbet.com[](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/1xbet.com)
• X Posts on Customer Experiences:
• EGR Intel on Russian Investigation: https://www.egr.global/intel/news/russia-targets-1xbet-in-investigation-into-illegal-gambling-tech-hub/[](https://www.egr.global/intel/news/russia-targets-1xbet-in-investigation-into-illegal-gambling-tech-hub-2/)