Since its launch in 2021, the casino has allegedly evolved into a large-scale “laundering” operation marked by violence and death—yet it continued to attract players even from EU countries.
Even the affluent Netherlands was shaken a few months ago by a brazen in the small town of Rijswijk. On the terrace of the Hoevevoorde Hotel, a man dubbed the “mafia cashier” by the media, Jemil Onal, was shot dead at close range. On the eve of this apparent “public execution,” Onal had given a lengthy interview to Northern Cyprus journalist Ayshemden Akın. He was meant to meet the reporter again, but never made it: all three bullets struck the 40-year-old “cashier” in the head.
In his interview, among other things, Onal managed to talk about the operations of H Casino in Belarus, which is protected by people from the entourage of President Alexander Lukashenko. Russian nouveau riche also don’t shy away from this casino, as all casinos in Moscow have long been shut down, and “Shangri La” moved to Minsk immediately after the bans… But it left a “branch” in the Golden-Domed City: as journalists from the newspaper “Izvestia” discovered at the time, this “branch” operated for a while in the Belarusian Embassy in Moscow.
And the “mafia cashier” Onal became the second victim in recent times, as in 2022, the main owner of H Casino, Halil Falyalı, a Turkish mafioso, was gunned down. He, a father of many children, was shot on the territory of Northern Cyprus, where he lived in a luxurious mansion with his wife and kids.
Apparently, there may be more victims, as astronomical sums are being laundered through the casino under “Batka” Lukashenko.
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The Hen That Lays Golden Eggs
So, H Casino has been flourishing in Minsk since 2021.
During this time, the establishment has become the leader of the Belarusian gambling market. Perhaps the reason for such success is that huge sums obtained from illegal online betting are being laundered through H Casino.
H Casino has been thriving in Minsk since 2021
But why don’t the Belarusian authorities touch H Casino?
Are local law enforcement agencies aware of the criminal activities of H Casino? As local journalists write, yes, they are aware, as a person under the nickname yatko has already contacted the security services. He reported: “I have some files on the director of the company IGOR KARTEL, Mustafa Egemen Şener, showing how he transfers illegal money and bitcoins.”
Yet the gambling establishment continues to operate. Moreover, H Casino rents premises in the Galleria Minsk complex (legal entity – JV “Gallery Concept”), which is managed by people closely connected to high-ranking Belarusian and Russian businessmen.
The media has already mentioned the name of the scandalous billionaire senator Suleiman Kerimov, who has a fondness for roulette: at one point, Kerimov promised to build a huge casino on Russian soil, but he just slightly missed the opportunity…
Does this mean he redirected his energy to Belarusian lands?
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Suleiman Kerimov
Indeed, gambling enthusiasts flooded Minsk after casinos were banned in Russia.
And after the casinos in Russia shut down, tour operators were the first to adapt: they offered players a new service—business tours to Minsk.
Clients were actively lured in, and websites promoting casino play started operating not only in Russian and English but also in Turkish and Arabic.
It’s worth noting that at one point, more than 60 casinos operated in Minsk, but today only about a dozen remain.
And without a doubt, H Casino is among the leaders.
H Casino is located in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Pobediteley Avenue, 9.
Journalists found out that the casino generated revenue through illegal online betting, and its owners are linked to the KGB and the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.
In other words, the game is being played on a grand scale. What’s unclear is something else: with such “profits,” why does Alexander Lukashenko constantly beg for money from Russia? And why can’t he repay the loan Minsk took for the construction of the Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant, or as the media call it, the “Belarusian NPP”?
16 Bullets Hit Their Target
Mustafa Şener moved to Minsk from Kyiv, as he faced significant problems with the law enforcement system in Kyiv. And Belarusian security forces couldn’t have been unaware of why Şener fled Ukraine, or how he makes his money.
The criminal story of H Casino began in 2022 with the contract killing of businessman Halil Falyalı in Turkey: he owned both the casino and the Les Ambassadeur hotel in Northern Cyprus.
Les Ambassadeur Hotel in Northern Cyprus
Falyalı’s car was shot up late at night: 16 bullets were fired at the businessman.
But back in 2015, the US issued a warrant for Falyalı’s arrest for laundering proceeds from criminal activities.
Halil Falyalı was very closely connected to H Casino, although officially he wasn’t listed anywhere in the documents, and the investor was considered to be only Mustafa Egemen Şener.
Halil Falyalı
But the close collaboration between Falyalı and Şener was also confirmed in an interview by Falyalı’s former financial director, Jemil Onal (the same one who was shot on the veranda of a Dutch hotel).
According to Onal, the casino was used for money laundering, including through illegal betting from Europe. The money came in cash, then was sent to Dubai using Şener’s business jet.
And it was Halil Falyalı who was the main investor in H Casino. Although he wasn’t listed in the documents, the legal entity — LLC “Gambling Cartel,” which owns the establishment, belongs to Mustafa Egemen Şener.
Casino at Les Ambassadeur Hotel
Money from illegal betting in other countries, including the European Union (Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic), flowed into the casino.
This money is brought into Belarus in cash, then recorded as lost at H Casino. And legalized. Then it is transferred to Dubai, where it is invested in legal companies and real estate.
The laundered funds went into the casino’s cash register. And formally became “clean.”
HCasino in Minsk
Şener and Falyalı used schemes to launder large sums.
According to Onal, a network of curators worldwide helped transfer money through crypto wallets and ATMs, from which the money went to the casino. Illegal funds came through hundreds of accounts linked to Falyalı’s system. The revenue from such operations amounted to over €60 million per month.
And Jemil Onal also claimed that H Casino is protected by a former employee of Belarusian security forces.
Jemal Onal and Halil Falyalı
Among the contacts of the owner of H Casino were people closely connected to both the KGB and the Ministry of Defense of Belarus. Mustafa Şener traveled to the Republic of Lithuania with a certain Igor Narkevich, who served in a reconnaissance battalion. The director of H Casino, Andrei Prokhorenko, crossed the border more than 230 times with security forces personnel — Alexei Shchepetov and Vitaly Matys.
And Jemil Onal named Vitaly Matys, a former employee of Lukashenko’s Security Service, among the people protecting H Casino.
It turns out that these connections lead to the very top, to President Lukashenko. After all, it was Lukashenko who, in 2012, issued a decree granting huge tax and customs benefits to the owners of the shopping center where H Casino shines (JV “Gallery Concept”).
Does Alexander Lukashenko have the most direct connection to the operations of HCasino?
After the deaths of Falyalı and Onal, the casino in Minsk continues to operate in the same manner: huge sums of cash from Europe flow into the casino, and then this money “travels” to Dubai.
Mr. Onal also pointed to possible patrons of H Casino owners among businessmen connected to Galleria Minsk.
Halil Falyalı
One of these businessmen — Timur Murtuzaliev — has influential connections in Russia.
A Bright Russian Trail
H Casino is located in the Galleria Minsk building, owned by JV “Gallery Concept.”
The latter is owned by the Cypriot DG Galleria Minsk Limited.
b2bhint.com
In 2018, this company received loans from Mustafa Şener’s business partner — Russian businessman Zubair Aliev.
b2bhint.com
Şener and Aliev jointly own LLC “Dostluk” in the Astrakhan region. This company supposedly deals with real estate.
Rusprofile.ru
But since its founding in 2021, the company has had no financial activity. And it reported losses of 9 million rubles for 2023.
These facts may indicate the likely use of this company for money laundering.
Zubair Aliev was previously the owner of several structures through which money could have been withdrawn: Aliev coordinates H Casino’s activities in Russia.
Rusprofile.ru
The beneficiary of the “Gallery Concept” company is Timur Murtuzaliev — through the companies Galleria Concept Blr Limited, DG Galleria Minsk Limited (Cyprus), and Oceans Solutions Limited (Saint Kitts and Nevis).
Timur Murtuzaliev was a shareholder in LLC “Novomoskovskaya”: the company operated in the Astrakhan region. It was liquidated in 2023.
Rusprofile.ru
Interestingly, the aforementioned Zubair Aliev, who “oversees” H Casino’s operations from the Russian side, was also involved in LLC “Novomoskovskaya”:
Rusprofile.ru
From LLC “Novomoskovskaya,” traces led to several other companies and entrepreneurs who operated in the Astrakhan region, Dagestan, and Minsk.
By the way, Timur Murtuzaliev is the son of the well-known Russian businessman Omar Murtuzaliev, who has influential connections in both Russia and Belarus.
The media also reported that H Casino and its owner Mustafa Şener may be under the protection of Senator Suleiman Kerimov and his associates.
And there is also a connection between the Murtuzalievs and Kerimov.
Omar Murtuzaliev
Omar Murtuzaliev was elected president of the Dagestan Wrestling Federation, and Senator from Dagestan Suleiman Kerimov, as far back as 2008, headed the supervisory board of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR). And he is very well acquainted with Omar Murtuzaliev.
Suleiman Kerimov – as journalists often write – has close ties to international crime. By the way, Kerimov planned to build an entertainment complex with a casino in Russia in 2017, but it didn’t work out…
Suleiman Kerimov wanted to build a casino in Russia, but it didn’t work out
But why be upset if everything is working out in Belarus?
Visiting Batka
Casinos in Russia – let’s recall – were outlawed on July 1, 2009.
But the exiles were warmly welcomed by Alexander Lukashenko.
At that time, more than 60 casinos were operating under Lukashenko.
And Moscow’s “Shangri La,” created in the 90s in Moscow by Briton Michael Boettcher with his Russian partners, quickly moved to Minsk.
However, in 2011, Mr. Boettcher was declared wanted: the Briton was suspected of running illegal casinos in Russia.
Amid the scandal, a Cypriot company, Roslaton Holdings Limited, emerged among the co-owners of the “Shangri La” casino in Minsk.
Michael Boettcher
Then another group of major players from Russia emerged: they owned the two largest casinos in Belarus (before the appearance of H Casino) – “Opera” ‒ in the “Pekin” hotel in the center of Minsk and M1 ‒ on the border of Belarus with Russia.
These casinos were founded by Mikhail Kuznetsov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, after which he transferred control to the Cypriot company MONARY LIMITED and his partner from Russia, Mikhail Konstantinov.
In 2021, they earned 15 million dollars in these two casinos.
“Shangri La” Casino in Minsk
But in mid-2021, H Casino made its presence known.
In just six months, this establishment raked in much more than the market veterans, earning a profit of over 7.5 million dollars.
However, as the late Cemil Onal managed to reveal in his interview, this business in the center of Minsk was not operating under Belarusian rules, but under Turkish ones!
Turkish citizens who expressed a desire to go on a junket tour visited an office in Istanbul, where they left a certain amount for gambling in a casino in Minsk.
H Casino
At first, they played with a modest amount, and then, bypassing the cash desk, received plastic chips worth the amount of the Istanbul deposit, with the settlement conducted upon their return to Turkey. Even in case of a complete loss, a certain percentage was returned to the player. There were cases when, from a loss of 50 thousand dollars, up to 40% was refunded.
But all of this happened while Halil Falyali was alive: such “gifts” were given only to his compatriots – Turks.
And, apparently, when Falyali was eliminated, people associated with Lukashenko, along with their Russian friends, entered H Casino.
