BetMGM CEO Almir Ribeiro said Brazil should use Pix payment tracking to identify financial operators serving illegal betting sites. He estimated the illegal market accounts for 40% of the sector and said site blocking would be less effective than targeting payment channels.
The proposal would direct enforcement towards financial operators connected to illegal betting rather than individual websites.
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The Bahia State Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a civil action against Nuoro Pay, Select Credit and Cartos over alleged payment processing for unauthorised betting platforms. It seeks a joint asset freeze of up to R$5m, the companies’ closure and controls requiring checks against the Finance Ministry’s lists of authorised and unauthorised operators.
Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Betting and Federal Revenue notified 37 fintechs suspected of processing funds for unauthorised betting operators, reportedly covering transactions for 160 operators. The institutions must end those relationships; no account blocks had been carried out, and the government set a deadline at the end of August for compliance. The authorities said non-compliant institutions could face joint liability and fines based on the amounts processed.
São Paulo Civil Police are investigating former Banco Master employee André Felipe de Oliveira Seixas Maia over suspected money laundering through illegal betting platforms, according to the report. Police allege that Silium, a payments intermediary in which Maia was identified as a leading partner, managed accounts for shell companies that handled betting deposits. The investigation remains confidential.
Legitimuz co-CEO Guilherme Bauab said minors can still place bets through illegal platforms in Brazil, while licensed operators must use identity checks introduced in January 2025. He cited estimates that the illegal market may generate more than BRL40 billion a year and called for coordinated action against unlicensed sites.
Online betting companies are reportedly negotiating with Brazil’s Liberal Party to resume operations from 26 October if Flávio Bolsonaro wins the presidential election. The alleged agreement has no public confirmation, and the report says it is unclear whether any return would include online casinos. Flávio Bolsonaro’s office had not responded by publication.