From a 933 million UAH fine to protests in Croatia: what is known about the new wave of pressure on Favbet owner Andriy Matyuha

In 2026, the owner of the gaming brand Favbet, Andriy Matyuha, found himself at the center of a new wave of media and regulatory attention. Critical publications about the activities of companies associated with the businessman, their ownership structure, and decisions by state authorities have appeared sequentially in Ukrainian and international media. RBK-Ukraine has systematized the key episodes: from the revocation of a license by the regulator PlayCity and a multi-million hryvnia fine to criminal proceedings, disputes over an offshore structure, and protests in Croatia against a poultry farm linked to the same circle of people.

PlayCity Decisions: License Revocation and 933 Million UAH Fine

One of the most notable episodes of 2026 was the decisions made by the state agency PlayCity regarding companies linked to the Favbet group. In April 2026, the regulator revoked the license of LLC "Favbet Game Slots" to organize and conduct gambling in slot machine halls. The agency's official decision explicitly states the termination of the relevant license. According to PlayCity data, the company was also fined 933 million hryvnias. The basis for the sanctions was the violations of legislation established during the inspection. It is important to emphasize: the regulator's decisions concern specific legal entities and their licenses, and the mere fact of applying sanctions does not automatically imply the establishment of personal guilt of the business owner.

Criminal Proceedings and Claims by "Non-Stop Ukraine"

Separately, the media reported on a criminal proceeding within which law enforcement agencies investigated possible violations in the financial activities of companies associated with the gambling business. A publication by the public organization "Non-Stop Ukraine" contains additional statements: it speaks of possible tax evasion, operations through payment services, so-called miscoding, and other violations. The organization claims that it has filed applications with law enforcement agencies and cites a number of criminal proceedings and court rulings. At the time of preparation of the material, final verdicts on these proceedings were not published in open sources.

Ownership Structure: UK, Malta, Cyprus

Another block of claims concerns the ownership structure of companies linked to Matyuha's business. Critical publications mention legal entities in the United Kingdom, Malta, and Cyprus. Authors suggest that through them, brand ownership, licensing, technological support, and payment administration functions may be distributed. Separate statements relate to British companies Favbet Invest LLP and Bet Invest Ltd, as well as Ukrainian legal entities linked to Favbet activities. However, part of such statements is based solely on reports from individual media and requires confirmation by documents or official registry data.

Contradictory Data

The media space discusses the possible Russian citizenship of Andriy Matyuha and the links of his business to the Russian market. Photos of a Russian Federation passport in the name of Andriy Matyuha are circulating in the open access, but confirming the authenticity of these documents is currently impossible. At the same time, on the website of the Moscow patent service, one can find a registered trademark Favbet, which, according to open data, is still valid on the territory of Russia and will remain so until 2030. However, as early as May 2022, the company Favbet itself published a statement saying that the bookmaker "does not work and has never worked in the Russian Federation." Thus, we have two mutually exclusive versions: on the one hand — an active trademark registration in the Russian patent system, on the other — a public statement by the company about the absence of activity in the Russian market. Resolving this contradiction requires additional verification and official explanations.

Croatian Project Premium Chicken Company and Protests in Sisak

In early 2026, the Croatian company Premium Chicken Company announced the construction of a poultry farm with a declared investment volume of 600 million euros. Premium Chicken Company is linked to Renaissance Capital, whose owner in the Croatian FINA database is named as Ukrainian businessman Andriy Matyuha. The poultry farm project in Sisak caused a sharp discussion among local residents, in particular due to concerns about the possible impact on the environment. Local residents went out in mass protests, which were covered by Croatian media with characteristic headlines: "No to the eco-bomb", "Megabutcheries and chicken farms in Sisak-Moslavina County: mega-profits for investors, mega-harm for residents." The situation remains active and continues to attract the attention of both local and international observers.

Favbet Foundation Charity as an Element of Public Image

An important part of Matyuha's public image is charitable activity. Favbet Foundation claims to provide systematic assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular the transfer of cars, drones, and other equipment to the military. The foundation also finances humanitarian and social projects, helps medical institutions, and supports sports initiatives. This activity is regularly covered by the foundation itself and companies associated with Favbet and is used as one of the key elements of public communication. At the same time, charitable activity itself does not cancel the claims of state authorities against individual companies of the group and the questions investigated by law enforcement agencies. In fact, a multifaceted portrait emerges for the observer: on the one hand — regulatory sanctions and criminal proceedings, on the other — large-scale investment projects abroad and a declared charitable mission.