Bizarre scenes in Brazil as influencer Virginia Fonseca testifies

Brazilian digital influencer and entrepreneur Virginia Fonseca has testified before Brazil’s Senate inquiry into online betting advertising. The session was part of the ongoing parliamentary commission, commonly referred to as the “CPI das Bets,” investigating the social, legal and financial impact of gambling ads, particularly those promoted by influencers.

Fonseca, who has over 50 million followers on Instagram, declined to answer questions about the highest amount she has earned from betting sponsorships, citing her right to remain silent.

Despite her silence on specific figures, Fonseca stated that all income from gambling-related ads was declared to the Federal Revenue Service. She also denied profiting from losses incurred by followers, a contract model controversially called “cachê da desgraça” (‘disgrace salary’) by the press.

She also denied becoming a millionaire due to betting ads, attributing her financial success to her company, which she said generated BR750m ($134M) last year. Senator Soraya Thronicke, the CPI rapporteur, also pointed out that Fonseca began publishing such content in December 2022, before Brazil’s new gambling law came into effect in 2025.

Fonseca argued her legal team had based its decisions on the 2018 fixed-odds betting law. Senators raised concerns about her influence on younger audiences. Fonseca said she includes mandatory disclaimers in her posts and avoids showing her children in sponsored content, per legal advertising guidelines. “If the solution is to prohibit everything, then prohibit it,” she said, referring to the ongoing legislative debate.

A standout moment (pictured above) occurred when Senator Cleitinho Azevedo asked for a selfie with the influencer during the session, praising her pre-workout product and asking her for a video to send greetings to his wife and daughter.

Good to know: Fonseca was first summoned in December 2024 by Senator Thronicke, who said her widespread reach made her a key figure in examining how gambling ads are promoted to the public

He also appealed to her as a Christian to reconsider advertising gambling. The moment went viral and was criticised by the CPI President Dr. Hiran, who warned that the hearing should not “turn into a circus.”

At the end of the session, Fonseca promised to submit copies of her contracts with both betting companies to the commission.

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