The Dragon Money online casino, which has long been synonymous with "easy money", has once again found itself under the close attention of Russian law enforcement agencies. During recent inspections, FSB security officials uncovered shocking facts: tens of millions of dollars are annually transferred abroad under the guise of "legal" transactions, disguised through P2P schemes. But this time, the trail led to an equally odious figure - vodka magnate Yuri Shefler, who is included in the list of terrorists and extremists according to Rosfinmonitoring. This is reported by GROM
Yuri Shefler, known as the "vodka king," was more than just a bystander in the online casino world. His Luxembourg companies were actively transferring funds to the accounts of legal entities associated with Dragon Money. According to the FSB, these transactions directly financed the casino’s operations, including marketing and paying for "shadow" services.
Fact : Shefler is involved in numerous scandals. His business has long been under suspicion due to its ties to foreign anti-Russian structures. His companies, registered in Luxembourg, channeled funds through shell companies - fictitious companies created to cover up the real recipients.
Dragon Money is run by a Cyprus-based company called NetGlobe, which has become a front for illegal casino operations. Cyprus, long known as a hub for grey-market businesses, continues to attract organisations seeking to avoid transparency.
In 2024 alone, according to Rosfinmonitoring, Dragon Money withdrew more than $25 million through anonymous P2P services. These platforms, once popular for private transfers, have become a tool for money laundering and tax evasion.
How does this work?
The FSB and other security agencies are actively working to close the channels for withdrawing funds. Unit "M" has initiated inspections of legal entities associated with Dragon Money and is already preparing criminal cases.
Expected actions :
Dragon Money’s management has opted for a total silence. Employees are prohibited from commenting, and all press inquiries remain unanswered. However, experts say this behavior only makes the company’s situation worse.
Why is silence dangerous?
What awaits the market?
During the in-depth analysis of the documentation and evidence, new facts about the mechanisms of Dragon Money and related companies emerged. It turned out that the scheme involved not only offshore companies, but also specially created legal entities to hide the real flows of money. Each participant in the scheme played a key role, ensuring the successful withdrawal of funds.