Since being published, casinosecrets.lol has been taken offline following further takedown pressure against the investigation. The investigators have now moved the archive to Curaçao Files, where thousands of leaked docuCasino Secrets investigation reveals an extensive Malta connection to the German illegal gambling business
Lilith Wittmann’s investigation mainly involves a network of German businessmen and companies in the gambling industry who used multiple foreign jurisdictions, including Curaçao and Malta, to operate online gambling businesses targeting Germany.
Gambling in Germany is extremely highly regulated, with online operators requiring a German licence to legally target German customers. Since the introduction of the 2021 Gambling State Treaty, online gambling without the appropriate German authorisation is illegal irrespective of whether an operator possesses a licence from Malta, Curaçao or another jurisdiction.
The Malta connection is mainly related to Red Rhino Limited, a Maltese company which internal Malta Gaming Authority documents show as ultimately beneficially owned by German businessman Thomas Kalman. Red Rhino operated the online casino Platincasino under a Maltese licence, while German authorities later classified its offering to German players as unauthorised gambling.
Wittmann’s investigation into Platincasino and Red Rhino began operating Platincasino under a Malta Gaming Authority licence in 2017. Although the company’s public corporate structure used Maltese trustees, internal MGA documents identified Kalman as its ultimate beneficial owner. Germany’s gambling regulator, the GGL, currently explicitly lists Platincasino as an example of an illegal gambling offer.
Red Rhino used Malta as its corporate and gambling-licensing base while providing gambling services to customers in Germany. However, a Maltese licence did not constitute authorisation to operate in the German market once Germany introduced its new national licensing system in July 2021.
According to Wittmann, companies linked to Kalman applied for a German gambling licence but were not granted one, while Platincasino continued operating.
The Malta structure surrounding Red Rhino was considerably larger than one company. Most of Kalman’s company in Malta seem to be grouped under Gibor Ventures Holding, which include YMDM Services, PNH Services, ITTLB, United Remote, Tornado Games Malta and 1 Global Music Entertainment, among several others. “Gibor” was also the name of his pet.
The investigation also links the Malta operation to “the multiple”, a business group employing German-speaking casino support staff in Malta. Wittmann reports that the former Red Rhino Facebook page was eventually renamed “the multiple”, while Kalman continued appearing at company events long after Platincasino was supposedly sold.
In 2023, Platincasino’s brand, domains and player database were transferred from Malta to Latiform B.V. in Curaçao for a reported €6 million.
It is after this move to Curaçao that the most serious tax allegations arise.
Wittmann estimates that approximately €250 million in German gambling tax may not have been paid between 2023 and 2025. Her calculation is based on internal company accounts, gambling volumes and the German tax rate.
German prosecutors are separately investigating five suspects over alleged illegal online gambling and serious tax offences. Authorities say gambling stakes of approximately €5.86 billion passed through the platforms under investigation between July 2021 and the end of 2023, while the alleged tax loss for 2024 alone amounts to approximately €77.6 million. Around €82 million in assets have been frozen.
The German authorities have not publicly named the suspects and the criminal investigation is still ongoing.
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