Hanzbet to shut down after licensing dispute with EA Entretenimento

Brazilian betting brand Hanzbet is set to cease operations by the end of July following a breakdown in its relationship with license holder EA Entretenimento e Esportes Ltda. The dispute has led to public accusations by Hanzbet founder and Chief Marketing Officer Eduardo Peres, who described the situation as a “true operational dictatorship.”

EA Entretenimento had earlier announced that Hanzbet’s operations would wind down by July 31, with the site remaining accessible solely for users to withdraw their balances.

However, in a LinkedIn statement posted on Monday, Peres claimed that the announcement was made without the knowledge or consent of the Hanzbet leadership team. He added that he and his colleagues were locked out of internal communication channels and removed from the decision-making process altogether.

According to Peres, the abrupt move has suspended payments to affiliates, suppliers, and service providers.

He further alleged that EA has been actively diverting Hanzbet customers to its other platform, BateuBet, through the support channels, a move he described as “revolting” and “a lack of respect for our history, for the partners and for all the professionals who helped build HanzBet with so much effort.”

Peres urged caution among other operators working under similar licensing arrangements, emphasizing that not all apparent partnerships are genuine.

“If you have an operation allocated under another company’s structure, be aware. Analyze who you are hanging out with. Not everything that looks like a partnership is, in fact, a partnership,” he wrote. “We are taking all legal and appropriate measures. And above all: we will fight to the end for what is ours.”

Peres also raised concerns over customers' ability to withdraw funds. He alleged that EA drained company liquidity while simultaneously informing users they had until the end of July to access their funds.

“In other words, they induced customers to withdraw, but those responsible themselves prevented this from being done by emptying the funds,” he stated.

The founder noted that despite signed contracts between Hanzbet and EA, seeking legal redress will be a long process. He warned that the reputational harm inflicted on the brand could deepen before any resolution is achieved.

This case has drawn attention to Brazil’s licensing model for betting operators. Under existing regulations, companies must be at least 20% locally owned and have a physical presence in Brazil, often leading startups and new brands to operate under parent companies holding the official license.

The Hanzbet-EA dispute could raise red flags for others using similar arrangements, as license holders maintain significant financial and operational control.

Despite the conflict and the impending closure, Hanzbet hinted at a potential comeback. In a separate Instagram post, the brand stated, “Hanzbet is about to return with a new phase. More modern, more complete, and better than before.”

It remains unclear what path the company intends to take or whether it has secured a new licensing partner.