Brazil: Final CPI report recommends indictment of 16 individuals

Key Points
- Senator Soraya Thronicke recommends indicting 16 people, including mega influencers Virginia Fonseca and Deolane Bezerra
- Allegations include money laundering, illegal gambling and criminal organisation
- Report also proposes 18 legislative changes to improve sector oversight
The Brazilian Senate’s Parliamentary Inquiry Commission into online betting (also known as CPI das Bets) has submitted its final report, recommending the indictment of 16 individuals, including high-profile influencers and gambling executives, for alleged involvement in illegal gambling schemes, financial crimes and misleading advertising.
Virginia Fonseca, one of Brazil’s most followed personalities, is accused of misleading followers by promoting unrealistic gambling gains, potentially violating consumer protection laws.
Meanwhile, Deolane Bezerra, another high-profile influencer, is accused of being a hidden partner of betting operator ZeroUm, and faces allegations ranging from fraud and money laundering to involvement in organised crime.
The Commission’s report outlines a wide network allegedly involved in unregulated gambling operations and financial crimes. Other individuals listed include former reality TV personalities, corporate executives and marketing agents. The document also proposes investigating Paybrokers, a payment facilitator suspected of managing financial flows for several unlicensed gambling sites.
In addition to these indictments, Thronicke’s report suggests 18 legislative measures to tighten control over the sector, improve transparency, and strengthen compliance mechanisms.
Good to know: The CPI das Bets was created in November 2024 to investigate potential criminal activity in Brazil’s online betting sector
The inquiry faced internal resistance and struggled to maintain quorum during its nearly seven-month run. Even though it lasted more than half a year, Senator Thronicke reportedly said she believes more time was necessary so the inquiry wouldn’t be weakened.
Despite this, the final report consolidates testimonies and data collected across 20 sessions, including official documents, the Federal Police, influencers and other public entities.
Further development is awaited as the Public Ministry evaluates the indications. The recommendations aim to address gaps in Brazil’s oversight of online betting, especially the role of digital influencers in promoting gambling to the public.
Tags/Keywords
Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.
Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.