Online bookie murdered in Frankfurt

Oliver Frolich, the fifty-year-old director of the German online and retail sports betting firm HappyBet, has been found shot execution style at the back entrance to his offices in the Sachsenhausen district of Frankfurt.

He had two bullet wounds to the head and was found by a local resident on Friday.

The Frankfurter Neue Presse reports that police investigating the murder are offering a Euro 5,000 reward for information on the killing of the entrepreneur, who was well known and respected for his philanthropic work with German sports organisations, especially those involving the disabled, and top celebrities.

Investigators believe that Frolich was on his way to work when he was shot by a person or persons at present unknown. Thus far no witnesses have come forward and it appears the fatal shots were not heard, despite bullet casings found at the scene. The police have not thus far found the murder weapon.

Malta-registered HappyBet, which Frolich ran with his brother Michael, was reportedly a thriving retail and online business, which recently sealed a sponsorship deal with the German football first division club Bayer 04 Leverkusen .

Police spokeswoman Isabell Neumann said the Criminal Investigation Department was examining all possibilities, including commercial competition.

HappyBet employees were stunned by the murder, with the company issuing a statement saying:

“The employees of the companies in the Happybet group are stunned and shocked by the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. Frolich.  We mourn especially with his family.  Oliver F. has made a vital contribution to the business and shaped the entrepreneurial operation of Happybet sports betting.”