Brazilian court orders asset freeze in Rio casino investigation

A Rio de Janeiro court has ordered the freezing of BR65m in assets belonging to suspects involved in an illegal online casino network uncovered under an operation. 

The investigation, led by the Civil Police, found that the group allegedly linked to Adilson Oliveira Coutinho Filho, moved more than BR130m between 2022 and 2025 through betting and front companies.

Authorities identified brand Palpite na Rede as one of the key entities in the scheme. The registered business address turned out to be a snack bar and police say its actual operations involved running an unauthorized online casino. 

Financial records show that Palpite na Rede transferred large sums to small, undercapitalized businesses. 

One, which is a supermarketing, received BR700.000 in 2023, while another, a beverage distributor, handled BR36m in one year and sent BR267.000 to a tobacco store suspected of laundering proceeds from the illegal cigarette trade. 

Good to know: The company’s accountant, believed to be the true administrator, was arrested after investigators found cash, luxury cars and counting machines at his residence

Investigators also traced over BR500.000 to another tobacco store connected to a company run by Willian Barile Agati, nicknamed the “Concierge of Organized Crime,” for his alleged ties to national criminal organizations.

Authorities say the operation demonstrates how criminal networks use the unregulated betting sector to disguise illicit funds, moving money through interconnected industries such as tobacco, beverage distributio and digital advertising.

Mark Sullivan

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