Since October 11, betting websites that are not regulated by either Lottopar or the federal government are prohibited from offering their services in Paraná. As a result, over two thousand betting sites that have not requested regulation have begun to be blocked by Anatel.
This blocking process is not immediate and may take some time for all of them to be fully blocked. Therefore, Lottopar is warning bettors about the risks of continuing to access illegal websites and advises them to use only regulated sites. The list of authorized websites can be checked here.
During a visit to Curitiba to participate in the 1st Responsible Gaming Week organized by Lottopar, the Secretary of Prizes and Betting (SPA), Regis Dudena, stated that "this effort will ‘separate the wheat from the chaff’ and it will become very expensive to keep creating these domains because we will attack on all necessary fronts, including the financial system, advertising in conjunction with Conar, and social media."
“The goal is to make the economic activity of those who are not legal unfeasible,” said Dudena. In other words, any bettor who places bets on an unregulated site could lose their money at any time.
Lottopar’s president, Daniel Romanowski, highlights the importance of these blocks as a way to ensure a safe market for bettors.
“First of all, it’s important to remember that betting sites are a form of entertainment, not a way to get rich or recover losses. In a regulated market, bettors have full consumer support, grievance channels, certificates that ensure operational security, and most importantly, while having fun, part of the proceeds stays in the state to fund public safety, affordable housing, and social projects.”
Among the main risks that bettors face when using these illegal sites is the potential loss of money, as many of these sites offer no guarantees, and bettors are not informed of the chances of winning in advance. Additionally, there is a high risk of fraud, such as sites that could steal personal or financial information, a lack of regulation and oversight, and no assurance that the games are fair or that payouts will be made as promised.
For this reason, Lottopar’s operations director, Fabio Veiga, emphasizes that if anyone is considering betting, it is always better to choose regulated and reliable platforms.
“Sites regulated by Lottopar offer security because Paraná was the first state to accredit testing and certification labs, ensuring that the systems of these regulated sites are safe, fair, and free from fraud,” he stressed.
Source: GMB
