Moneybookers (Skrill)
Summary
Moneybookers (rebranded as Skrill in 2011/2015) is a UK-based digital wallet and online payment processor founded in 2001. It became a dominant payment method in the online gambling industry before being acquired by Paysafe Group in 2015 for €1.1 billion. The platform was the primary payment method used for deposits to Titan Poker and Europa Casino in 2009-2010.
Company Overview
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 (as Moneybookers) |
| Founders | Daniel Klein, Benjamin Kullmann |
| Rebranded | 2011 (Skrill) |
| Acquired | 2015 by Paysafe Group |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Regulation | UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Former Name | Moneybookers Ltd. |
Historical Development
Early Years (2001-2010)
- 2001: Founded as Moneybookers in London
- 2001: First business to receive electronic money license in UK
- 2007: Became one of Europe's leading digital wallets
- 2009-2010: Primary payment processor for documented casino deposits
Rebranding and Growth (2011-2015)
- 2011: Rebranded from Moneybookers to Skrill
- 2013: Acquired Paysafecard (prepaid payment solution)
- 2015: Acquired by Paysafe Group for €1.1 billion
Under Paysafe (2015-Present)
- Integrated with Neteller and Paysafecard
- Continues as major gambling payment processor
- Expanded cryptocurrency services
Documented Transactions
Moneybookers processed the following documented gambling deposits:
Transaction 1: Titan Poker (via FastEngine Processing)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | November 25, 2009 |
| Amount | USD 40.00 (CHF 41.00) |
| Recipient | Fastengineadmin1@spidernet.com.cy |
| Transaction ID | 207244794 |
| Sender | mahapo1991@hotmail.com |
Transaction 2: Europa Casino (via FastEngine Processing)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | January 4, 2010 |
| Amount | EUR 35.00 (CHF 53.25) |
| Recipient | Fastengineadmin@spidernet.com.cy |
| Transaction ID | 220287442 |
| Sender | mahapo1991@hotmail.com |
Moneybookers in 2009-2010
Based on archived email documentation, Moneybookers in this period:
- Was authorized and regulated by UK Financial Services Authority (FSA)
- Registered in England & Wales (No. 4260907)
- Headquarters: Welken House, 10-11 Charterhouse Square, London
- Supported CHF (Swiss Franc) and EUR transactions
- Provided automatic email confirmations for all transactions
Security Warnings (from 2009-2010)
Moneybookers' automated emails included prominent security warnings:
"Moneybookers and its employees will NEVER ask you for your password. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. If you are ever asked by phone, email, or any website other than moneybookers.com, refuse to provide it and report it immediately to security@moneybookers.com."
"Moneybookers will NEVER request personal access data from you by email or ask you to click a link in an email to log into your Moneybookers account!"
Significance in Online Gambling
Moneybookers/Skrill became the preferred payment method for online gambling because:
- Anonymity: Separated bank accounts from gambling sites
- Speed: Instant deposits and fast withdrawals
- Regulation: FCA oversight provided legitimacy
- Acceptance: Widely supported by gambling operators
- Multi-currency: Supported CHF, EUR, USD, and others
Surveillance Implications
As a regulated UK payment processor, Moneybookers/Skrill:
- Maintained permanent transaction records
- Was subject to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations
- Reported suspicious transactions to authorities
- Created financial trails linking individuals to gambling sites
- Compiled comprehensive customer profiles
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Moneybookers founded in London |
| 2007 | Major growth in online gambling sector |
| 2009 | Documented transactions to Cyprus processors |
| 2011 | Rebranded as Skrill |
| 2013 | Acquired Paysafecard |
| 2015 | Acquired by Paysafe Group |
Related Entities
- Paysafe Group: Parent company (owns Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard)
- Neteller: Competitor/acquired sibling company
- Paysafecard: Acquired prepaid payment service
- FastEngine Processing: Cyprus-based processor receiving Moneybookers payments