- BR30m ($5.4m) in assets seized in major illegal betting operation in Brazil
- Investigators uncovered links between legalised betting fronts and previous illegal activity
- Operation follows ongoing efforts to clean up Brazil’s gambling landscape
The police in southern Brazil conducted an investigation targeting illegal gambling activities, including the widely known but controversial Fortune Tiger, also known in Brazil as Jogo do Tigrinho. The initiative, called Operation Red Card, took place in the coastal region of Santa Catarina and led to the seizure of assets worth around BR30m, including properties, vehicles and financial holdings.
The operation was conducted across cities in the Southern region aiming to financially disable a group accused of running unlicensed betting sites, online bingo platforms, slot-style games and jogo do bicho, an illicit lottery-style numbers game popular in Brazil.
According to the Civil Police, the group used shell companies to launder proceeds from illegal betting operations. Investigators found that at least one platform currently operating as a regularised betting site was originally built upon a company involved in unlawful gambling. The group’s core is believed to consist of at least 10 individuals.
The raid also led to the confiscation of computers and documents expected to provide further evidence. The action is a continuation of an operation which saw dozens of properties and vehicles seized in a similar crackdown.
Good to know: The country’s Secretary of Prizes and Betting has released its regulatory agenda for 2025–26, outlining key priorities such as licence issuance, enforcement strategies and consumer protection
Brazilian Police have ramped up enforcement efforts as the country continues its regulatory development of the gambling and betting sectors.
