Irish Regulator Investigates 145 Soft2Bet Gambling Websites
Jacob Mitchell 
Key Takeaways:
- Ireland's gambling regulator launched an investigation into Soft2Bet websites.
- The probe targets 145 gambling sites linked to Soft2Bet for illegal offerings.
- Investigation follows reports of illegal Irish wagering and lacking age/ID checks.
- Soft2Bet entities reportedly generated €600 million from blacklisted sites.
- Two Soft2Bet-linked sites, OnlySpins and Betwarts, have announced closure.
- The regulator in Ontario, Canada, is also investigating Soft2Bet.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has initiated an investigation into websites operated by the global betting group Soft2Bet. The regulator aims to determine if these sites are illegally providing gambling services to customers in Ireland.
This action follows a collaborative investigation by The Irish Times, Investigate Europe, and 14 other media partners. The earlier investigation revealed that Soft2Bet sites were accepting wagers from Irish customers without proper online casino licensing and failed to conduct age verification or ID checks on new users.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Background
The previous investigation disclosed that Soft2Bet and related entities generated €600 million from betting sites that had been blacklisted by regulators for illegal gambling in at least one EU country, a trend seen across regulated online casino markets. Leaked internal files indicated that 145 gambling sites were owned or operated by the Soft2Bet group, which is managed by Uri Poliavich.
The GRAI is now reviewing all 145 of these identified websites. The regulator stated, “We are investigating each of these websites with a view to enforcement action,” adding, “We will use every tool at our disposal to combat and disrupt illegal activity.”
Industry Impact and Enforcement Actions
Since the publication of the Soft2Bet investigation, at least two sites linked to the group have announced their closure. OnlySpins, a gambling site that reportedly used two Irish companies, Zentoria and Morada Horizon Services, for customer deposits, has ceased operations. OnlySpins was accepting bets from Ireland without an Irish licence, instead being licensed through Tobique, a Canadian First Nation reservation, and did not require age or ID verification for new users. Another Soft2Bet-linked site, Betwarts, has also announced its closure. Additionally, the regulator in Ontario, Canada, has confirmed it is investigating Soft2Bet.
Established last year, the Irish regulator has intensified its enforcement activities recently. This includes action against predictive market site Polymarket, which geo-blocked Irish users from placing bets after the GRAI informed it that such platforms require an Irish iGaming industry licence. Prediction market platform Kalshi had already blocked Irish-based betting. The GRAI emphasized that unlicensed entities must prevent access by Irish consumers, warning that failure to comply could lead to enforcement action. The regulator highlighted that black-market gambling, including unlicensed prediction markets, is a primary focus, with several live investigations underway that could lead to prosecutions.
Soft2Bet has denied any wrongdoing in response to these developments.
