Call for Evidence: NovaArcade OÜ and Alleged MCC Misuse in Legionbet Payment Flows

Overview

Scam-Or Project has obtained a whistleblower submission alongside a Visa complaint suggesting that deposits made to the high-risk online casino Legionbet may have been routed through the Estonian entity NovaArcade OÜ using an incorrect merchant category code (MCC).

According to the available information, these transactions may have been processed under a non-gambling MCC, potentially masking the true nature of the payments. Scam-Or Project is now calling on players, insiders, and payment professionals to contribute further evidence to clarify whether NovaArcade OÜ acted as a payment intermediary, technical merchant, or registered front merchant in a possible transaction-laundering structure.

Key Findings to Date

Initial evidence points to several concerning elements:

• A UK-based player reported multiple GBP deposits to legionbet.com, which allegedly appeared as “NovaArcade” transactions linked to Tallinn, Estonia.
• In a submitted Visa complaint, the player claims that a non-gambling MCC was applied to what were, in fact, casino-related payments.
• NovaArcade OÜ (reg. no. 17280191, Narva mnt 7-557, 10117 Tallinn) is registered as a small e-commerce business rather than a licensed gambling or financial entity.
• Legionbet operates as an offshore casino targeting UK and international users, offering both card and crypto deposit options.
• Reviews on Trustpilot explicitly accuse Legionbet of bypassing UK gambling restrictions and engaging in transaction laundering.
• NovaArcade’s precise role in this structure—whether as a payment agent, front merchant, or technical intermediary—remains insufficiently documented.

Situation Analysis (Compliance Perspective)

Legionbet – High-Risk Gambling Platform

Legionbet is described across multiple review platforms as a relatively new casino brand featuring:

• Thousands of games and live casino offerings
• Aggressive bonus systems
• Strong focus on retention and continuous play
• Acceptance of both credit cards and cryptocurrencies

However, its licensing and ownership structure remains unclear. Some sources associate the platform with AMO Global S.R.L. or Fortaprime SRL in offshore jurisdictions, while others reference unclear or non-transparent licensing frameworks.

User feedback indicates that Legionbet may deliberately bypass UK gambling restrictions and continue accepting credit-card deposits via alternative payment routing methods.

NovaArcade OÜ – Micro-Entity with E-Commerce Profile

NovaArcade OÜ, established in July 2025, is a small Estonian company with:

• Share capital of €250
• EMTAK classification in online retail/e-commerce
• A connection to the “Village Network” gaming/virtual environment platform

Such a profile aligns with known patterns of “technical providers” or front merchants used to process payments for third-party services while obscuring the true nature of transactions. This risk increases significantly when these entities are integrated into cross-border acquiring chains in high-risk industries like online gambling.

Whistleblower Submission and Visa Complaint

A whistleblower reported to Scam-Or Project that NovaArcade OÜ may act as a payment agent for Legionbet and potentially other high-risk operators.

This claim is partially supported by a Visa complaint submitted by a UK cardholder, who:

• Identified the merchant as “PLR NovaArcade,” matching the Estonian company profile
• Confirmed making GBP deposits to legionbet.com
• Stated that the transaction was routed through NovaArcade OÜ using a non-gambling MCC
• Asserted that this setup violates Visa’s merchant rules

This complaint establishes a direct link between Legionbet transactions and NovaArcade’s presence within the Visa acquiring network, raising serious concerns about MCC misclassification.

Compliance Analysis: MCC Misuse and Transaction Laundering

From a regulatory and card-scheme perspective, several red flags emerge:

1. MCC Misclassification

Card networks such as Visa require accurate MCC assignment reflecting the actual nature of transactions.
Using a non-gambling MCC for casino deposits may constitute a violation and be classified as transaction laundering.

2. Circumvention of Safeguards

In jurisdictions like the UK, credit-card gambling restrictions are designed to protect vulnerable users.
Routing payments through unrelated MCC categories undermines these protections.

3. Use of Front Merchants

Small entities like NovaArcade OÜ may be inserted into payment chains as intermediaries to obscure the gambling origin of funds.

4. Licensing Opacity

Public data raises doubts about Legionbet’s regulatory standing, while user complaints suggest a lack of transparency and dispute resolution.

If confirmed, these practices could expose all involved parties—including merchants, acquirers, and operators—to regulatory enforcement and penalties.

Why Additional Evidence Is Needed

Despite strong initial indicators, the current dataset remains incomplete:

• Only one fully documented transaction is available
• Full card-statement data (including MCC, acquirer, authorization, and clearing details) is missing
• The “PLR NovaArcade” descriptor requires systematic verification across multiple cases
• The scale of the operation—whether isolated or part of a broader network—remains unknown

To establish a complete compliance picture, more data points are required.

Key Entities and Roles (Preliminary Mapping)

Call to Action: Help Uncover the Payment Structure

Scam-Or Project invites affected users and industry professionals to assist in uncovering the full scope of the NovaArcade–Legionbet payment chain.

We are particularly interested in:

• Card statements showing transactions labeled “PLR NovaArcade” (sensitive data can be redacted)
• Screenshots of deposit flows, payment confirmations, or receipts
• Internal documentation or technical integration materials
• Information about acquiring banks, PSPs, or MCC classifications used

All submissions should be made via the Scam-Or Project whistleblower section to ensure confidentiality and data protection.

Final Note

Greater transparency is essential in exposing opaque payment infrastructures. By sharing verified information, contributors can help identify potentially abusive transaction-laundering schemes and protect consumers across the UK and EU.