Brazil’s federal government has requested the removal of 348 influencer profiles promoting unlicensed betting platforms, as authorities expand enforcement efforts beyond blocking illegal websites. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security announced the measure on 9 November, stating that the identified accounts had more than 150 million combined followers.
The move follows a report from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), which revealed that more than 47,000 illegal betting websites had been blocked by 6 November. This represents an average of more than 1,100 websites blocked daily since Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 was published on 25 September, banning betting operations in Brazil.
Authorities target social media promotion of illegal betting
The removal requests were coordinated by the National Secretariat for Digital Rights (Sedigi) and the National Secretariat for Public Security (Senasp), with support from the Cyber Operations Laboratory (Ciberlab).
Justice Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva said enforcement could not focus exclusively on blocking websites while influencers continued directing users towards illegal platforms. However, the removal requests do not confirm that the accounts have been taken down, as enforcement depends on the platforms hosting them.
A monitoring study by LegitBet, a platform used by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), identified 802 Instagram profiles promoting 844 betting websites between 21 October and 2 November.
Approximately 74% of the influencers promoted betting platforms more than once during the period. Most identified accounts, representing 73%, had between 10,000 and 100,000 followers, while another 23.6% had between 100,000 and one million.
Telegram channels continue distributing betting links
During a monitoring session on 27 October, LegitBet analysed 908 Instagram profiles within one hour and 25 minutes, identifying 626 that shared links to suspected betting websites.
ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge estimated that the posts could reach between 5.9 million and 59.4 million people, raising concerns about exposure among teenagers who can access Instagram from age 13.
An investigation published by Metrópoles on 8 November also identified 87 betting domains promoted across six Telegram channels with more than 43,000 combined subscribers. The messages advertised referral bonuses, fee-free withdrawals and alternative access links. Some users were reportedly added to the channels without their consent.
The Ministry of Justice had previously requested the removal of 1,027 betting-related groups and channels, with approximately 18.4 million combined memberships and subscriptions. Authorities also identified 51,611 websites, 6,596 Facebook pages, more than 900 Instagram profiles, 1,442 Telegram groups and 127 TikTok profiles linked to irregular betting promotion.
ANJL challenges betting ban amid illegal market concerns
The ANJL has criticised the suspension of licensed betting operations, arguing that the measure could encourage consumers to use illegal platforms.
Before the ban, 85 companies had received federal authorisation, each paying BRL30 million ($5.36 million) for a licence covering up to three brands. The licences generated BRL2.55 billion ($455.36 million) in government revenue.
The association argued that licensed operators had been subject to identity verification, regulatory oversight and underage gambling prevention requirements that illegal platforms may not follow.
ANJL is also challenging Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 before Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court. Following a request from Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, Justice Luiz Fux ordered the suspension of legal proceedings challenging the measure on 9 November, pending the court’s review of its constitutionality.
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