Melbet scandal: cybercrime and money laundering in Senegal’s betting industry

The Senegalese betting landscape is facing a major upheaval as authorities uncover a sophisticated cybercrime network linked to the controversial platform Melbet. An ongoing judicial investigation, launched in January 2026 by the Special Cybercrime Unit (DSC), has exposed an intricate web of financial irregularities and alleged money laundering activities spanning multiple countries.

Financial flows and suspicious transactions

Between September and December 2025, judicial authorities scrutinized payment records from the mobile money operator Wave, revealing staggering financial movements. Client deposits totaled over 29.5 billion West African CFA francs, while withdrawals amounted to approximately 23.5 billion CFA francs. This unexplained discrepancy of nearly 6 billion CFA francs has raised red flags among investigators, who suspect deliberate fund retention and potential money laundering schemes.

The investigation details a deceptive operational model where users were lured into high-stakes virtual games promising substantial winnings. However, to claim these fictitious prizes, victims were required to make micro-payments through unregulated merchant interfaces such as the “Game Sawa” application. The lure of daily “millions to win” was aggressively promoted through mass social media campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Meta.

Exploiting trust and institutional symbols

Fraudulent advertising campaigns employed underhanded tactics to gain credibility. Investigators found that unauthorized use of official symbols and public figures was rampant. The Radiodiffusion télévision sénégalaise (RTS) logo and images of international football star Sadio Mané were illicitly used to mislead potential bettors and circumvent public skepticism.

International ramifications and legal opacity

The judicial inquiry has also uncovered a complex corporate structure designed to bypass regulatory scrutiny. The primary entity, Melbet Limited (registered in Cyprus), faces dissolution proceedings, rendering it legally incapacitated from operating internationally. To circumvent this obstacle, an intricate network of shell companies—including Vikhrédia Suarl and Batnesto Ltd—was allegedly established.

These entities operated through domain lease agreements that did not confer any legitimate gambling licenses. The National Lottery Regulatory Authority (Lonase) has firmly distanced itself from Melbet, emphasizing strict compliance with transparency and anti-money laundering regulations. The Lonase maintains that no direct contractual relationship exists between the authority and the platform, underscoring the severity of the regulatory violations uncovered.

The investigation has led to the judicial supervision of several individuals of diverse nationalities, including Russian national Filipp Mikhalin, Ivorian Mécapeu Catherine Prisca Droh, and accomplices from Senegal and Moldova. Their involvement in alleged criminal association, identity fraud, and money laundering is currently under scrutiny as legal proceedings advance.