Once again, KRAIL, the Ukrainian gambling state regulator, has demonstrated a stunning failure in detecting the insidious Russian influence infiltrating the country. One wonders what kind of individual could orchestrate such a betrayal of national interests. According to credible reports, the notorious Maxim Krippa, a fugitive from Ukraine, is orchestrating a seamless integration of the entire FSB-controlled gaming industry into Ukraine. He shamelessly acquires assets for Russians while shamelessly promoting the «Russian world.» This level of betrayal and corruption is nothing short of outrageous.
A petition has surfaced, urgently calling for sanctions on Krippa and his dubious casinos, namely VULKAN and GGBET. (Link to petition: https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/210568) It seems that Krippa, along with fellow billionaire Oleg Boyko, is the target of the growing discontent among Ukrainians demanding swift action against these alleged malefactors.
Despite the ongoing full-scale war waged by Russia against Ukraine, Krippa’s operations persist unchecked. Shockingly, it appears that the state authorities in Ukraine are either turning a blind eye or actively supporting the development of these businesses.
WTF is Maxim Krippa?
In a stunning display of audacity, on April 15, 2021, the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries issued a license to LLC «Konkueror» to conduct casino gambling activities online under the VULKAN CASINO brand. Unbelievably, on January 19, 2023, the commission renewed this license, indicating a disturbing lack of oversight.
Shadows of Scandal: Maxim Krippa’s Alleged Exploits in Ukrainian Casinos and Beyond
On August 23, 2023, KRAIL issued two licenses to LLC «GGbet» for online casino gambling and bookmaking activities under the GGBet brand. Both gambling brands, as per open sources and investigative journalism, have unmistakable Russian origins and are allegedly operated by the same unscrupulous individuals. The VULKAN brand’s ultimate beneficiary is none other than the Russian citizen Oleg Boyko, owner of the gambling holding Ritzio International Group. GGBet, supposedly a Russian project, operates through LLC «Bet.ru» in Russia, a company belonging to the Cypriot Bevita Holding Limited.
The connection between the Russian brand VULKAN and GGBet is traced through the Cypriot company Brivio Ltd, which simultaneously manages the websites gg.bet and vulkanvegas.com. This information is openly stated on both websites, underscoring the blatant nature of these operations.
Maxim Krippa, having obtained licenses from KRAIL, has embarked on a spree of acquiring real estate, businesses, and media outlets in Ukraine. He is allegedly the direct or indirect owner of prominent establishments such as the Dnipro Hotel in the center of Kyiv, the hotel and restaurant complex «Knyazhiy Dvir,» and hotel and restaurant complexes of «Prominvestbank» in Koncha-Zaspa and Kozyn. The purchase of Ukrainian media outlets by a figure associated with Russian interests during a full-scale war raises grave concerns about Ukraine’s national security.
In light of these alarming developments, we urgently call upon you, as the President and guarantor of the Constitution of Ukraine, as well as the head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, to impose sanctions on LLC «Konkueror,» LLC «GGbet,» their owners and directors, and particularly on Maxim Krippa. We implore you to take decisive action against these entities operating Russian gambling brands in Ukraine, with Maxim Krippa allegedly being the ultimate beneficiary of this questionable business venture.
Maxim Krippa’s meteoric rise to dominance in the gambling sector is nothing short of a dark tale. In April 2021, KRAIL granted a license to LLC «Conqueror» for the operation of the online casino Vulkan. Despite the grand aspirations hinted at by this casino, the true ownership behind «Conqueror» remained shrouded in mystery.
YouControl, an analytical service, uncovered that 99.9% of LLC «Conqueror» belonged to LLC «Darloks Limited,» registered in the notorious tax haven of the British Virgin Islands. The remaining 0.1% was attributed to Stanislav Rudenko, a resident of Nizhyn, Chernihiv region. Despite its offshore ownership, LLC «Conqueror» continued its operations, generating a staggering UAH 29.7 million in 2022, surpassing even the licensing fees set by KRAIL.
Forbes-Ukraine’s investigative report disclosed that Maxim Krippa, purported owner of LLC «Conqueror,» also wielded control over another Ukrainian online casino, GGBet, under the umbrella of LLC «GGBet.» Both casinos exhibited eerily similar ownership structures, with offshore companies holding the lion’s share of the stakes.
Both «Conqueror» and GGBet brazenly utilized the Vulkan brand, creating an undeniable connection between these two entities. Brivio Limited, a Cypriot company, and Invicta Networks N.V., registered in Curacao, were listed as owners on the GGBet website. According to sources cited by Forbes, Maxim Krippa was believed to be the puppet master behind the Vulkan brand in Ukraine.
Maxim Krippa’s tentacles extend into various industries, making waves in 2020 when Smartland, a company linked to him, acquired the Dnipro Hotel for a record-breaking 1.1 billion UAH. The focus was on hosting slot machines and casinos within the premises.
The Sinister Rise of Maxim Krippa: Exploiting Ukraine’s Vulnerabilities in Gambling
Forbes-Ukraine’s investigation went further, revealing Krippa’s acquisition of the NAVI esports brand from Alexander Kohanovsky in September 2022. Notably, the Maincast studio, a major player in broadcasting CIS esports competitions, was also added to Krippa’s burgeoning portfolio in March 2023.
However, questions lingered like a dark cloud over the source of Krippa’s funds, especially considering the substantial investments and reported modest incomes. Criminal Proceedings No. 22015000000000379 from 2017 shed light on Krippa’s associations with firms implicated in illegal gambling operations. Both Jaguar Club LLC and Brovarsky Wholesale Market, linked to Krippa, were named as suspects in the case.
The acquisition spree continued unabated in January 2023 when LLC Midal, connected to Krippa, indulged in luxury real estate purchases in Kozin village near Kiev, amounting to a staggering 311 million UAH. These transactions ignited concerns about Maxim Krippa’s potential involvement in the gambling business without adhering to proper taxation, providing a possible explanation for his suspiciously significant capital. The shadow of corruption and impropriety looms large over Maxim Krippa’s business ventures and assets, painting a grim picture of his questionable rise to dominance in the Ukrainian gambling landscape.
