Recent investigations by independent investigative group Bellingcat, and football magazine Josimar have exposed dubious practices of the betting giant 1xBet, revealing its extensive involvement in organising and streaming thousands of amateur sports events, some involving minors. The activities exposed by the investigations include orchestrating matches with fictitious teams, portrayed as legitimate sporting events. A notable aspect is the so-called “short football,” a variant of futsal live-streamed to engage bettors. Despite the controversies, 1xBet has secured lucrative sponsorships with prestigious football clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, continuing to expand its reach globally.
Following the Bellingcat and Josimar investigations, SiGMA News spoke with Alex Sommers, Director of Affiliate Marketing at 1xBet.
How does 1xBet respond to the allegations of operating in countries where it is banned, such as Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine? What measures are being implemented to ensure compliance with local laws?
1xBet does not operate in the Russian Federation or Belarus or Ukraine. Access to 1xBet’s website has been geo-blocked in these countries since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022 at our initiative. Our policy is that we do not accept clients based in either country and this is reflected in the relevant terms and conditions. 1xBet is not a Russian company; it is a global award-winning bookmaker brand with a head office in Cyprus. The company complies with all local laws and regulations in countries where its brand is operated.
What is your response to the claims that 1xBet is involved in hosting manipulated sports games, including setting goal limits for matches?
1xBet is not involved in the organisation or hosting of the sports, tournaments and matches which it takes bets on, which are legal and legitimate. 1xBet acquires video streams from third party audiovisual providers, like many gaming companies do, and these videos are incorporated on the website on the basis that they are legitimate competitive events. In the event we identify streams which feature content that does not comply with local laws, we request for it to be removed. To re-emphasise, none of these videos are 1xBet productions.
Can you clarify the use of famous football team names in amateur games? How do you address concerns regarding the unauthorized representation of well-known teams like Real Madrid and Arsenal?
The streams we acquire from third party providers are based on content which complies with local laws. We would never endorse unauthorised use of any third-party material which breaches copyright, especially given we are partners to some of the biggest teams in global sport. In the event these are identified, we request their removal. Furthermore, we have written to all of our streaming providers reminding them of their obligations to filter videos and ensure those hosting are in full compliance with copyright laws.
What is your position on the streaming of amateur matches involving minors and allowing them to be part of betting activities? Are there any policies or safeguards in place to prevent this?
Betting on amateur sports is not illegal and many global bookmakers offer this to customers. 1xBet adheres to all the laws and regulations in every market in which it operates and would never accept bets from anyone under the pre-requisite age in the relevant jurisdiction (this usually alternates between 18 and 21) and encourage safe and responsible betting. We would never aim our marketing or promotional campaigns at children. Furthermore, and in professional sport, it is becoming more and more common for elite athletes to be under the age of 16, with teenagers participating for the biggest prizes in their respective sports. Our approach is that if bets are legally placed and adhere to our terms and conditions, customers are free to bet on the sports and athletes they most enjoy watching.
How do you ensure that the venues you associate with do not have questionable ties, such as those with political parties or military associations, as highlighted in the allegations?
1xBet operates a global franchise model, where local management teams enter commercial arrangements with the brand in adherence to a strict bilateral contract. At the heart of this is the provision that its local operations adhere to all relevant gambling rules and regulations, which vary jurisdiction by jurisdiction and are ever evolving and this is monitored carefully. We respond to changes in local regulation and amend our approach to ensure full compliance. Should a local market ban gambling, we are clear – our policy is we would no longer offer our products and services.
Can you outline the steps 1xBet is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations, particularly in jurisdictions where gambling is heavily regulated or banned?
As mentioned above, we comply fully with the laws and regulations in every market where the brand is present. There are no fixed international standards or regulations of this industry – they vary from market to market and evolve over time and we monitor these rules to ensure we comply, making any necessary changes to our practices and operations. It is worth noting that the same allegations are experienced by some of the biggest gambling companies in the world, where their brands are, we are sure unintentionally, marketed on content which has copyright concerns. In the event third parties and affiliates, who are contractually instructed not to misuse the 1xBet brand, do utilise platforms which breach any sort of copyright laws, we deal with it robustly and demand the brand’s removal. Most of the brand promotion facilitated by the dozens of third-party affiliates we utilise is carried out via legitimate channels.
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