Benefactor or scammer? What is known about the situation around Favbet owner Andriy Matyukha

The owner of the Favbet gambling brand, Andriy Matyukha, has found himself at the center of a new wave of media attention. The media increasingly features critical publications about the activity of his companies, the ownership structure, and decisions by state authorities.

PlayCity decision and a nearly one-billion-hryvnia fine One of the most notable episodes in 2026 year was the state agency PlayCity's decisions concerning companies linked to the Favbet group. In April 2026 year, PlayCity canceled the license of LLC "Favbet Game Slots" for organizing and conducting gambling in gaming halls. The agency's decision states the license was terminated. According to the regulator, the company was fined 933 million UAH. The basis for the sanctions were violations of the law identified during the inspection. A screenshot t.me/playcityukr It is important that the regulator's decisions concern specific legal entities and their licenses. The mere fact of sanctions does not automatically establish personal liability of the business owner. Proceedings and claims regarding business activity Separately in the media there were reports of a criminal proceeding in which law enforcement investigated possible violations in the financial activities of companies associated with the gambling business. In the publication by the public organization "Non-stop Ukraine" there are also statements about possible tax evasion, operations through payment services, so-called miscoding, and other violations. The organization states that it has turned to law enforcement authorities and cites a number of criminal proceedings and court rulings. A screenshot facebook.com/gononstopukraine Questions regarding business and assets Another block of claims concerns the ownership structure of companies connected to Matyukha's business. Critical publications mention legal entities in the United Kingdom, Malta, and Cyprus. The authors speculate that through them functions of brand ownership, licensing, technology support, and payment administration may be distributed. Separate statements concern British companies Favbet Invest LLP and Bet Invest Ltd, as well as Ukrainian legal entities reportedly connected with Favbet's activities. It should be noted that some of these claims are based on reports by individual media and require confirmation by documents or official data. Questions about possible links with the Russian Federation There is also discussion in the media space about possible Russian citizenship of Matyukha and his business connections with the Russian market. In the public domain there are photographs of a Russian passport in the name of Andriy Matyukha, but verifying the authenticity of these documents is difficult. A photo of a possible Russian passport of Matyukha circulates online (screenshot) Furthermore, it is claimed that some trademarks and related structures could have continued to operate in Russia after the start of the full-scale invasion. For example, the site of the Moscow Patent Office currently lists a registered trademark Favbet, which remains valid on Russian territory and will be valid until 2030 year. Screenshot from the Moscow Patent Office site Nevertheless, in May 2022 year Favbet published a statement saying that the bookmaker does not operate and has never operated in Russia. Croatian investments and environmental cautions Matyukha also develops business projects outside Ukraine. At the beginning of 2026 year in Croatia, the company Premium Chicken Company announced the construction of a poultry farm with a declared investment volume of 600 million euros. Premium Chicken Company is associated with Renaissance Capital, whose Ukrainian-based owner in FINA is named the Ukrainian businessman Andriy Matyukha. The poultry farm project in Sinj caused discussion among local residents, including concerns about potential environmental impact. People took to mass protests, which were covered by Croatian media with headlines like “No Eco Bomb,” “Megabuildings and poultry farms in the Sisak-Moslavina County: mega profits for investors, mega costs for residents,” and similar. Media reports about protests against the construction of a mega poultry farm (screenshot) Charity as part of public image An important part of Matyukha's public image is charity. Favbet Foundation claims systematic assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the transfer of military vehicles, drones, and other equipment. The Foundation also funds humanitarian and social projects, helps medical institutions, and supports sports initiatives. This activity is regularly highlighted by the foundation itself and by companies related to Favbet, and is used as a key element of their public communications. However, charitable work alone does not cancel the claims of state authorities against individual companies of the group or the issues investigated by law enforcement. Likewise, the existence of such claims does not negate the fact of providing aid to the military. Therefore, assessing the businessman’s activities remains a matter of public and legal discussion: charitable contributions are one aspect of this story, but cannot automatically argue either for his innocence or against it.