1xBet History: The Founders Behind the World's Largest Sportsbook

The Three Founders

Who is Roman Semiokhin?

Roman Semiokhin is considered the main creator and primary beneficiary of 1xBet. He started his first betting shop under the Fonbet franchise in 2007, then expanded to over 300 locations across Russia by 2012. Semiokhin currently resides in Cyprus and has spoken publicly about 1xBet's international expansion strategy in interviews with Forbes.

Who is Dmitry Kazorin?

Dmitry Kazorin is one of the three co-founders of 1xBet. Together with Semiokhin and Karshkov, he helped build the betting operation from a small Bryansk enterprise into an international brand. Like his co-founders, Kazorin holds Cypriot citizenship.

Who is Sergey Karshkov?

Sergey Karshkov was a former Russian intelligence officer who handled the marketing and technology strategy for 1xBet, establishing his own marketing firm called 9 Pandas to run advertising campaigns. He passed away in June 2023 at the age of 42 in a Swiss hospital, reportedly due to a rare allergic reaction to MRI contrast fluid.

Legal Background

Why were the founders on an international wanted list?

In 2020, the Russian Investigative Committee revealed the names of the three founders and added them to an international wanted list, accusing them of illegally organizing gambling operations between 2014 and 2019. Russian authorities seized estates valued at approximately 1.5 billion rubles. All three had obtained Cypriot citizenship before the warrants were issued.

Where is 1xBet legally registered?

1xBet is operated by 1X Corp N.V., founded in 2007 and registered in Limassol, Cyprus. The platform holds a Curaçao eGaming License and also operates under local licenses in countries including Spain, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, and Nigeria.