Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
Andrey Matyukha, owner of one of Ukraine’s largest bookmakers, Favbet, has published a series of statements denying claims that he holds a Russian passport or is involved in Russian companies.
He cites his Ukrainian citizenship, active business operations in Ukraine, and support for the Armed Forces as proof, but insists that accusations of a “Russian connection” are baseless.
Indeed, checks in the registers testify in favor of Andrey Matyukha – in all companies where he is the owner or co-owner, Matyukha is listed as a citizen of Ukraine. There are several dozen such companies, and they are not limited to the gambling business – this includes restaurant business, retail, food trade, and property rental.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
Most of these companies belong to Andrey Matyukha, some he owns solely, others - jointly with Matyukha Sergey Valerievich or Matyukha Darya Evgenievna. Another part of the business is registered to Victoria Eduardovna Skrynchenko, who is registered at the same address as Matyukha.
In Russia, none of these surnames, including the surname of Andrey Matyukha himself, are listed in the registers of business entities. However, at least until mid-2022, the Favbet office accepted bets from Russian citizens, although it operated illegally in that country after the start of the full-scale war. However, those wishing to place a bet successfully bypassed these bans. Until 2014, Favbet operated in Russia under the name "Favorit Sport", and it is still often called that there.
However, despite the illegal status, Russian gambling market analysts still include Favbet in their ratings and evaluate it quite positively.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
In Belarus, the Favbet office is registered under the ownership of LLC "FavBetBel" and, although bets are not accepted legally, the license-holding company itself has not been liquidated and is not in the process of liquidation.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
So, purely formally, Andrey Matyukha indeed does not operate in Russia and Belarus. Although his office does accept bets from Russians and Belarusians. This already casts doubt on his claim of non-involvement in Russian business.
A careful study of the registers reveals several more interesting traces that indirectly confirm that the accusations from which Andrey Matyukha so loudly disavows himself are far from unfounded.
First, no one has been able to prove that the photo of the Russian Federation citizen passport of Andrey Valerievich Matyukha, posted on several resources, is fake.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
Second, there is a company whose beneficiary until 2018 was Andrey Matyukha, and his partners in it were two citizens of the Russian Federation. This is LLC "Dorida Realty" (EDRPOU code 35143046), registered in Kyiv. It still conducts its activities.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
However, it is possible that Matyukha really exited the beneficiaries not only formally. But there are other coincidences that tell us that not everything is so simple.
Back in 2008, the Russian publication "Kommersant" reported that "Andrey Matyukha, who owns the gambling establishments ’Favorit’, is creating a network of ’Partiya’ restaurants in Kyiv." Interestingly, the company that owns the ’Favorit’ casino chain was mentioned - LLC "Dnipro Victoria."
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
Currently, LLC "Dnipro Victoria" exists, with its founders listed as Moldovan citizens Angela Balan and Natalia Nyamtsu. Angela Balan also has LLC "Favorit Jackpot" registered to her, and in Moldova, she owns several more business entities.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
However, this does not lead to Russia, because Russian registers do not disclose the surnames of both Moldovan citizens in connection with business. And the affiliated LLC "Grand Victoria", where the owners were Andrey Matyukha and Victoria Skrynchenko, has been liquidated.
However, LLC "Favorit Invest", whose authorized person is listed as Elena Balan, hides its beneficiary behind a Belize offshore.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
And here it is worth mentioning the investigation by "Nashi Groshi" from a decade ago. They were looking for Sergey Arbuzov’s yacht First Wave, and found an unremarkable London office where 511 companies belonging to Yanukovych’s entourage were registered. At the address London, Bedford Street, 43, office 11, the company Favbet Invest LLP was registered, to which the website favbet.com was assigned.
Andrey Matyukha’s Favbet: the bookmaker that dodges bans and feeds on Russian players
The website itself no longer works, but Favbet Invest LLP is hidden precisely behind owners from Belize. Which is, as everyone understands, a dead end in any attempt to get to the real beneficiaries. But the website name speaks for itself.
This is not the only company of Andrey Matyukha hidden behind offshore entities. Such is LLC "Lux House", where among the founders is "ELITE PROPERTY ASSETS LLP"; LLC "Atlant Triumph", which includes "BET INVEST LTD"; LLC "Aquaplaz", where there are two offshore entities – the Cypriot BAGKO INVESTMENTS LIMITED and FOITE INVESTMENTS LIMITED.
Another part of Andrey Matyukha’s assets is closed by the Closed Non-Diversified Venture Investment Fund "Investment Fund in Construction-2" and, strangely enough, the Charitable Foundation FavBet Foundation.
All this, of course, does not indicate that Andrey Matyukha continues his business in Russia. However, besides the unresolved issue with the Russian passport, no one has been able to explain what happened to the network of six hundred Russian "Favorit" casinos, which, as Russian resources testify, accept bets to this day, although they redirect those wishing to do so to the Favbet casino websites.
Распечатать
