Image: Uri Poliavich, founder of Soft2Bet | source: soft2bet-casino-italia.com
One of the fastest-growing iGaming platform providers in the world, Soft2Bet, owes its rapid ascent to a vision that extends beyond market share and revenue.
Soft2Bet CEO Uri Poliavich believes the real win comes when commercial success creates something lasting for others. That belief has shaped how the company invests its profits in education, community development, and new technology that raises industry standards.
In this blog, we’ll look into how a gaming business built for scale is also built for purpose, from large-scale education programs to a €50 million innovation fund that helps new entrepreneurs break through.
From Scarcity to Strategy
Uri Poliavich was born in 1981 in Soviet Ukraine, a time and place where resources were scarce and opportunities even more so. Those early years gave him a deep motivation to create something brighter.
When his family moved to Israel, the possibilities widened. After serving in the military and earning a law degree from Bar-Ilan University, he explored different professional paths.
His time at Playtech gave him the kind of experience that comes from building business in multiple markets, from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. That mix of resilience and market knowledge later became the foundation for Soft2Bet.
His business story is closely tied to his philanthropic work. Uri Poliavich on charity work reflects his understanding that meaningful impact requires the same commitment and strategy as building a successful company.
Building Soft2Bet into a Global Player
In 2016, Poliavich launched Soft2Bet to compete in regulated markets and deliver products tailored to each region. Today, the company holds 19 licenses across 10 jurisdictions, offers over 12,500 games from more than 100 providers, and operates a sportsbook covering 60 sports and 1.2 million events annually.
In 2024, Soft2Bet introduced MEGA, the Motivational Engineering Gaming Application. This gamification platform improved deposits by 50 percent, increased player screen time fourfold, and boosted deposit frequency by 30 percent.
The platform earned “Product Launch of the Year” at the 2025 Global Gaming Awards EMEA. The award reflected not only its unique design but also the tangible performance gains it brought to operators and players.
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From Business Success to Philanthropy
By 2020, Poliavich and his wife, Yael, wanted to leverage Soft2Bet’s success to make a broader impact. They established the Yael Foundation with a guiding principle: “No Jewish Child Left Behind.”
The foundation focuses on strengthening Jewish identity by supporting access to high-quality education. It has reached over 13,500 children in 37 countries through Sunday schools, kindergartens, and cultural programs that make heritage and learning accessible regardless of geography or income.
Poliavich has said, “That mindset applies not only to the job but also to the charity. The charity fuels our purpose, inspiring us to grow the business and expand its impact. It pushes us to think bigger, act bolder, and build something that truly matters.”
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€50 Million Innovation Fund
After the Yael Foundation proved how powerful targeted giving could be, Soft2Bet created another channel for impact, Soft2Bet Invest. Launched in 2024, this €50 million fund supports emerging companies and entrepreneurs in the iGaming sector.
The focus is on businesses developing advanced AI technology to improve user experiences and on building high-margin gaming software. The fund provides both financial backing and industry mentorship, giving startups the tools to scale quickly and operate in competitive, regulated markets.
The Soft2Bet Foundation
Separate from the Yael Foundation, the Soft2Bet Foundation represents the company’s broader commitment to creating positive change on a global scale.
Guided by the belief that technology and kindness can work hand in hand, the foundation channels resources into initiatives that directly improve lives and protect the planet.
Its work spans several focus areas:
- Providing children with access to education and brighter futures
- Supporting individuals and communities with essential resources that bridge the gap between hardship and opportunity
- Driving environmental efforts such as reforestation and clean energy projects
- Caring for animals through rescue funding, shelters, and wildlife preservation programs
Accountability in a Regulated Industry
Operating in multiple jurisdictions demands rigorous compliance and ongoing transparency. Soft2Bet has strengthened its governance frameworks to align with some of the most stringent regulatory standards in the iGaming sector.
Dedicated compliance teams oversee every market, ensuring that operations meet local requirements while maintaining consistency across all regions.
That same level of oversight extends to its charitable and investment projects. Each initiative is monitored for measurable results and responsible use of resources.
Growth with Purpose
Soft2Bet shows that industry leadership and social responsibility can grow side by side. Under Uri Poliavich’s guidance, the company’s commercial success fuels large-scale education initiatives, cultural preservation programs, and a €50 million innovation fund that gives new entrepreneurs the resources to succeed.
For Poliavich, profitability is only part of the equation. The objective measure of success comes when a thriving business leaves a positive mark on the world.
By channeling business gains into projects that improve lives, he offers a model for how the iGaming industry or any other industry can turn growth into meaningful global impact.
About the Author
Vanz Halberg specializes in industry deep-dives on gaming technology, investment strategy, and philanthropy. He explores how leaders and companies are reshaping industries while investing in a better future.