Brazilian influencer arrested for alleged illegal gambling scheme worth $39.5m

Brazilian influencer Maria Karollyny Campos Ferreira, better known as Karol Digital, has been arrested in the state of Tocantins, on suspicion of leading a large-scale illegal gambling scheme. 

Police confirmed her preventive detention alongside her partner, following charges including illegal gambling operations, money laundering, corruption and criminal association.

According to the investigation, Karol Digital used her online platforms to promote unlicensed betting sites by simulating gambling wins. 

“The public believed she was playing and winning, when in fact the supposed prizes were mostly payments from companies,” explained Police Chief Wanderson Queiroz.

Authorities estimate that she moved BR217m across a five-year period, from 2019 to 2024.

Karol rose to prominence by showcasing a luxury lifestyle to her 1.5 million followers. Her social media featured designer clothing, yachts, mansions and a collection of sports cars, including a McLaren worth more than BR3m. 

In one recent post, she unveiled a personalized yacht in pink, grey and black. Investigators note that the case began in 2023 after she purchased a BR4m mansion in cash, prompting suspicion from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Tocantins.

Police also revealed a criminal record dating back to 2015, when she was targeted by Federal Authorities for fraud and later imprisoned twice for armed robbery. 

Good to know: São Paulo has recently launched a specialized treatment programme for gambling addiction

After serving part of her sentence under house arrest, Karol positioned herself publicly as an example of rehabilitation. However, she later turned to online gambling promotions, becoming a millionaire within a decade.

Last week, a court ordered the freezing of all her assets, including properties and bank accounts. Her legal defence claims the investigation is unlawful and has announced plans to appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court.

If convicted, Karol faces more than 10 years in prison.

Alex Rivera

Writer

My goal is to explain how gaming, esports, and betting intersect in ways that readers can actually understand, without stripping away the entertainment that makes the space compelling.

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