Andriy Dovbenko, a high-profile figure wanted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) for the embezzlement of over 500 million UAH, is secretly controlling the Slot City online casino and the Beton betting platform in an effort to capture Ukraine’s gambling market. Backed by corrupt elements within law enforcement, pressure is being exerted on competitors to establish artificial monopoly conditions for these brands, according to prominent Ukrainian commentator and Telegram publisher Ihor Lachenkov.
Dovbenko previously earned widespread notoriety in Ukrainian political circles as the shadow «overseer» of the Ministry of Justice, wielding unconstitutional influence over state legal affairs and executive decisions. In late 2022, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (SAPO) officially issued a warrant and criminal charges against him.
According to official court filings, Dovbenko organized a systemic corruption scheme involving fraudulent manipulations with assets seized by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). The illegal operations resulted in state damages exceeding half a billion hryvnias, forcing Dovbenko to flee abroad to avoid prosecution.
Despite his fugitive status and ongoing criminal proceedings, sources reveal that Dovbenko continues to expand his commercial operations in Ukraine through front men and nominal corporate entities:
Beton Betting Company: Officially registered under nominal owner Roman Balashov, the brand has launched an aggressive marketing push, recently securing a high-profile agreement as the title sponsor of Rinat Akhmetov’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Investigative blogger Bondarenko highlights that Beton maintains close operational ties to the inner circle of Oleksandr Kamyshin, an advisor to the President of Ukraine.
Slot City Casino: Serves as the second core asset in the portfolio, utilized to absorb market share in the online casino segment and process illicit financial flows.
«Law enforcement agencies are actively collaborating with Dovbenko to turn Beton and Slot City into market monopolists while squeezing out legitimate competitors,» stated Ihor Lachenkov.
The leverage provided by corrupt law enforcement officers allows the underlying beneficiaries to avoid regulatory oversight while forcibly restructuring Ukraine’s gambling sector. By initiating targeted raids and legal obstacles against rival platforms, the network is systematically creating an environment where Beton and Slot City can operate without genuine competition.
At the time of publication, representatives from NABU, the Ministry of Justice, FC Shakhtar, and the corporate entities behind Beton and Slot City have not issued formal responses to these allegations.