Soraya Thronicke states that the CPI is justified given the need to identify possible flaws in the regulation and monitoring of these activities. She points out that Congress approved the regulation of sports betting, but gambling and the jogo do bicho remains illegal and has been growing on these platforms. In addition, the Executive Branch is still drafting the regulatory ordinances.
Soraya says she voted in favor of regulating ‘Bets’ in Brazil and has no regrets. “There is no point in turning a blind eye to the reality of online gaming in Brazil. But strict oversight is needed. There can be no sponsorship, no advertising,” she told Coluna do Estadão.
The parliamentarian also noted the lack of control over the actions of influencers. “The CPI allows for a detailed analysis of financial transactions related to online virtual gambling, aiming to implement more robust mechanisms to control and combat organized crime, in addition to protecting consumers and the integrity of the market,” she adds.
In Operation Integration, 19 arrest warrants and 24 search and seizure warrants were issued, as well as seizure of assets (luxury cars, real estate, aircraft and vessels) and valuables, in addition to the freezing of financial assets worth R$2.1 billion (US$ 377m).
Among the seized assets is a Ferrari with an estimated value of approximately R$7 million (US$ 1.25m), cash totaling more than R$160 million (US$ 28.7m), dozens of properties, boats, aircraft, vehicles and valuables.
The police operation is the same one that arrested lawyer and digital influencer Deolane Bezerra, who promoted Esportes da Sorte on her social media. Deolane says she is the victim of a “great injustice.”
The owner of the Esportes da Sorte betting house, Darwin Filho, and his wife, Maria Eduarda Quinto Filizola, turned themselves in to the Civil Police of Pernambuco on Thursday, the 5th, after being targeted by the same operation. The company's defense says that the site complies with the law and claims to be at the disposal of the authorities.
The Senate currently has another committee investigating the activities of ‘Bets’, but the investigation is on a different approach. It is the CPI on Manipulation of Results, which is scheduled to end on October 7th. This is chaired by Senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO) and is investigating fraud in the fixing of games.
Source: Coluna do Estadão
