UPL under Artur Granz’ shadow: What VBet’s owner’s “sports sponsorship” is really hiding

UPL under Artur Granz’ shadow: What VBet’s owner’s “sports sponsorship” is really hiding

VBet, an online gambling platform with questionable ties, is strengthening its foothold by sponsoring Ukrainian teams, despite being under investigation for tax evasion.

Recently, the Latvian publication "Kompromat.lv" reported that a company associated with Ukrainian businessman Artur Granz purchased a building in Latvia, where a Russian music group is set to perform. Artur Granz’ name has long been involved in a series of media investigations related to the VBet brand—a controversial online casino that has found itself at the center of scandals. In particular, both the businessman’s activities and his influence on Ukrainian gambling and sports have attracted the attention of StopCor.

Company’s reaction to accusations

In February 2024, VBet publicly responded to a wave of publications about its potential ties with Russia. In its statement, the company emphasized that it has never operated in the Russian market, has no connection to Russian beneficiaries, including Vigen Badalyan, and operates under British jurisdiction. At the same time, company representatives called on the media to remove materials that, in their opinion, harm VBet’s business reputation.

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Tax issues and criminal proceedings

On May 3, 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine announced the opening of a criminal proceeding against VBet (LLC "VBET UKRAINE") on suspicion of tax evasion on an especially large scale. The company is also suspected of conducting gambling organization activities without the required license, which may have led to multibillion-dollar losses for the budget. Additionally, we published an investigation in which Artur Granz is suspected of involvement in smuggling schemes, and his business operations likely had financial ties to Russia.

Court cases: attempts to unfreeze assets

The loudest episode was the decision of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv in July 2024 to lift the freeze on VBet’s accounts, despite the ongoing criminal proceeding and earlier confirmations of the legality of the freezes by dozens of judges and even the Kyiv Court of Appeal just four days prior. The decision was made by Judge Yushkov, which attracted criticism from the public and experts. It should be noted that financial monitoring had blocked the accounts even before the court’s decision, considering the same suspicions of the company’s ties with Russian capital.

It is important to note that Yushkov was in the Pechersk court only for a limited time—as part of a short-term assignment. His actual place of work is the Yenakiyeve City Court in Donetsk Oblast. After the start of hostilities in 2014, he worked in the Chervonohvardiysk District Court. Dnipro.

International expansion and scandalous deal

On December 27, 2024, journalists published an investigation about VBet’s acquisition of Parimatch’s assets in Brazil. It is worth noting that Parimatch is sanctioned in Ukraine due to ties with Russia. Experts viewed this operation as an attempt to bypass restrictions and maintain Russian influence in the international gambling business. Immediately after the publications, information about the deal was removed from official resources.

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Sports sponsorship

VBet actively positions itself as a partner of Ukrainian sports. In July 2023, the company signed an agreement with FC "Dynamo" Kyiv for the 2023/24 season. In August 2024, it became the title sponsor of the Ukrainian Premier League, signing a three-year agreement. In February 2025, VBet announced a partnership with FC "Karpaty" (Lviv).

VBet’s generosity in the sports sector amid criminal proceedings and suspicions of financial machinations raises a logical question: is mass sponsorship an attempt to whitewash its reputation or to legalize income of questionable origin?

Conclusions

VBet and its co-owner Artur Granz remain at the center of attention for journalists, law enforcement, and the public. Formally, the business declares transparency and support for Ukrainian sports. In fact, it is involved in numerous investigations related to tax evasion, ties with Russia, and financial schemes abroad. Information about Granz’ real estate in Latvia, where Russian artists perform, only strengthens possible assumptions about his potential connections to Russia. All this requires further attention and transparent legal response.