Brazilian authorities have ordered the nationwide blocking of three betting platforms linked to PixBet Soluções Tecnológicas Ltda., escalating legal and regulatory pressure on the company over alleged failures to adequately prevent minors from accessing its services.
The order, issued by the Justice of Paraíba, requires the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to block PixBet, Bet da Sorte and GanheiBet across Brazil.
The decision follows an earlier injunction against PixBet issued in July, which was later upheld after the company appealed.
Court Raises Pressure on PixBet
Judge João Lucas Souto Gil Messias initially ordered the suspension of PixBet’s betting websites on July 14, citing concerns over safeguards designed to prevent minors from registering and gambling on the platforms.
The case was brought by the Padre Ezequiel Ramin Center for the Defense of Human Rights (CEDECA), the Francisco de Assis Association for Education, Citizenship, Inclusion and Human Rights, and priest Júlio Lancellotti.
PixBet challenged the decision, arguing that it had implemented facial biometrics in accordance with federal gambling legislation and rules established by Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA).
The court nevertheless confirmed the restriction and has now expanded the action to cover the three platforms nationwide.
R$4.7 Million Penalty Accumulates
The original injunction imposed a R$100,000 daily fine while the platforms continued operating despite the order.
According to the court, non-compliance over 47 days resulted in an accumulated penalty of approximately R$4.7 million, which the judge ordered to be paid.
The ruling also calls for an independent technical assessment of PixBet’s systems. The review is expected to examine its facial recognition and biometric tools, databases and access controls, including whether those measures are genuinely capable of preventing minors from using the platforms.
Regulatory Concerns Add to Legal Pressure
The court proceedings come alongside separate action from Brazil’s betting regulator.
Two precautionary measures issued by the SPA in August reportedly concerned alleged breaches of responsible gambling requirements and failures involving information submitted to the Betting Management System (Sigap).
That puts PixBet under scrutiny from multiple sides, with the courts examining its player protection measures while regulators continue to assess compliance with Brazil’s recently established betting framework.
Federal Police Also Investigating PixBet
The company is also facing a separate investigation by Brazil’s Federal Police as part of Operation Arena, launched in August.
Investigators are examining allegations involving potential money laundering, foreign exchange evasion and other offences connected to the National Financial System.
The criminal investigation is separate from the Paraíba court case, meaning the company is now facing pressure from judicial authorities, gambling regulators and federal law enforcement simultaneously.
For now, Anatel is responsible for implementing the nationwide blocking order against PixBet, Bet da Sorte and GanheiBet. The independent technical examination ordered by the court could also determine whether the platforms’ existing age-verification and access-control systems meet the standards expected under Brazil’s regulated betting market.
Source: SBC Noticias