The 14th Civil Court of São Paulo upheld the Attorney General’s Office’s decision to remove Zeroumbet off the list of permitted operators.
Dozens of betting businesses have sought for licenses ahead of Brazil’s planned introduction of regulated sports betting. Some of those who did not arrive on time sued, claiming they were unable to adapt to the new legalization timetable.
While Brazilian authorities agreed to admit some of the latecomers, a court recently ruled to keep one operator involved in an ongoing criminal probe out.
The Court upheld AGO’s decision.
The operator in question is Zeroumbet Plataforma Digital, an online gambling firm founded by notorious lawyer and influencer Deolane Bezerra. For perspective, Bezerra was detained in September as part of an ongoing AML probe.
Operação Integration, a significant crackdown on alleged money laundering in Brazil, resulted in multiple arrests for suspected fraud participation.
In addition to Bezerra, who was detained twice for his involvement in a criminal organization, officials apprehended Darwin Henrique da Silva Filho, the proprietor of Esportes da Sorte. Interestingly, the latter site subsequently acquired a license.
See Also:
- Brazil proposes an online betting ban due to mental health and financial risks.
- Sir Stelios Fund and Matchbook have launched easyBet.
- Suspected fraud in the Canadian gambling industry increased by 79.3% in the first half of 2024.
Zeroumbet, one of the three firms Bezerra sought sports betting certification for, attempted to argue in court that it should not be penalized for its owner’s wrongdoing. According to corporate authorities, taking it off the whitelist violated Brazil’s presumption of innocence.
The 14th Civil Court of São Paulo upheld the Attorney General’s Office’s decision to remove Zeroumbet off the list of permitted operators. The court defended its ruling by citing the strong legal and regulatory standards that Brazil’s online wagering business strives to maintain.
Meanwhile, Bezerra continues to refute the claims made against.
Brazil Betting Set to Launch on January 1
Brazil’s legal sports betting industry is scheduled to open on January 1, 2025. The nation has permitted 100 enterprises to operate during the transition period between October and January, however some of them had to battle for the privilege.
Because of its massive population and well-known love of sports, the country is seen to offer enormous untapped potential for regulated gambling. However, some people are concerned that these characteristics may lead to gambling-related damage.
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