Brazilian Senate report recommends crackdown on online gambling, indictments of influencers and operators

The Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Sports Betting in Brazil has submitted its final report, calling for the indictment of 16 individuals and companies linked to the betting industry and proposing a series of legislative and regulatory changes aimed at tightening oversight and restricting online gambling activity. 

The report, delivered by Senator Soraya Thronicke on Tuesday, includes 20 proposed measures and 17 bills designed to curb what the senator describes as the “uncontrolled growth” of the regulated betting sector.

Among the names recommended for indictment are well-known influencers Virgínia Fonseca and Deolane Bezerra. The report accuses Fonseca of misleading her audience by placing simulated bets during livestreams, which the document frames as a form of fraudulent advertising. 

“The deception of followers who believed that real bets were being placed, not mere simulations” is cited as the basis for recommending charges of fraud.

Bezerra, meanwhile, is accused of more serious offenses, including money laundering, fraud, and involvement in a criminal organization. The report alleges she is a hidden partner in Zeroumbet and used intermediaries to operate illegally. Financial activities involving her and her children, the report claims, did not align with their income declarations.

In addition to recommending criminal indictments, the report outlines 20 sweeping regulatory measures. These include an outright ban on online casino games, the criminalization of unauthorized betting operations and “predatory” advertising, restrictions on operating hours, and withholding taxes at the source. 

The proposals also seek to bar individuals registered in the federal social assistance database (CadÚnico) from participating in betting activities, and would establish a national registry of players and operators.

The report recommends that the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) be granted authority to block illegal betting sites and calls for financial institutions to implement controls in cooperation with the Central Bank. Other measures would require operators to disclose user activity, including playtime and losses, and offer educational content about the risks of gambling.

Senator Thronicke’s proposals also include referrals to key oversight bodies. The Central Bank has been asked to analyze records of payment providers serving betting platforms, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office has been urged to initiate criminal investigations based on testimony given to the CPI. 

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting and the Council for Financial Activities Control (Coaf) are also being called upon to strengthen the framework for monitoring suspicious transactions.

The CPI’s term is currently set to expire on Saturday, but Committee Chairman Senator Dr. Hiran stated that he would request an extension from Senate President Davi Alcolumbre to allow for a vote on the report next week. While Alcolumbre has previously indicated no extension would be granted, the issue remains under discussion.