The Ministry of Finance suspended the operation of 14 betting sites linked to six companies for non-compliance with regulated market rules. The precautionary measures were determined by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) and prevent platforms from receiving new bets.
Despite the suspension, the department determined, the websites must remain accessible for users to withdraw amounts available in their accounts. The decisions also determine the cancellation of bets in progress and the immediate return of bets.
Companies will have to report the suspension on their own pages. Failure to comply with the provisions may result in a daily fine of R$200,000.
Lack of information
Most of the measures are related to the lack of information considered mandatory for monitoring operations by the government.
The data should be sent to the Betting Management System (Sigap), used by the SPA to monitor companies authorized to operate in the country. According to the decisions, the lack of this information hampers supervision and can put bettors and the regulated market at risk.
The companies and brands affected are as follows:
Pixbet Technological Solutions: Pixbet, Ganheibet and Betdasorte;
Zeroumbet Digital Platform: Zeroum, Sportvip and Energia;
Select Operations: MMA, Betvip and Papigames;
Nexus International: Megaposta;
Enseada Services and Technology: Kbet;
RR Participações and Business Intermediations: Multibet, Ricobet and BRXBet.
Precautionary measures
The suspensions are precautionary in nature and are linked to ongoing administrative sanctioning processes. The offering of new bets is prohibited while the determinations are in force.
Companies will be able to settle pending issues and present the information or documents required by the SPA. The resumption of operations will depend on proof of compliance with the requirements established by the agency.
Different reasons
In the case of Pixbet, the SPA applied two precautionary measures for different reasons. According to the secretariat, in addition to the failures in sending information for inspection, the company was accused of failing to comply with rules related to responsible gambling.
According to the lawsuit, the company did not implement an analytical tool and methodology to identify and monitor gamblers with the potential to develop gambling-related problems.
The suspension of Megaposta, operated by Nexus International, is also related to failures in sending data to inspection.
Lack of forwarding
The Zeroumbet Digital Platform was suspended for not forwarding information required to monitor operations.
The decision determines that bets in progress are canceled and that the amounts are immediately returned to users.
ZeroUm had been the target of administrative proceedings by the Treasury related to the disclosure of authorization to operate. According to the lawsuit, the company operates through court orders.
Corporate problem
The situation of RR Participações e Intermediações de Negócios, responsible for Multibet, Ricobet and BRXBet, is different from that of other companies.
SPA stated that the company did not present documents on the actual corporate structure (list of partners) requested in previous investigations. The absence of documentation would have prevented the analysis of requirements necessary for the operation.
According to the secretariat, failure to send documents jeopardizes the following requirements for the company to operate: legal qualification; tax and labor regularity; suitability; economic-financial qualification; and technical qualification.
