The Finance Ministry ordered that Pixbet suspend operations in Brazil, cancel ongoing bets and return the amounts to bettors. The measure provides for a daily fine of €33.4 thousand and the seizure of up to €184 million from the company.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the sector's regulatory body, said that Pixbet presented compliance failures, such as lack of information, procedures and internal controls to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud; deficient governance structure; sports integrity risks; lack of responsible gambling; and indications of operations through legal entities abroad (offshores).
The suspension affects the websites pix.bet.br, ganhei.bet.br and betdasorte.bet.br. Resumption of operations depends on submitting the required information and proving compliance with the rules. Because it holds local licenses, Pixbet may continue operating in Rio de Janeiro and Paraná.
SPA justified the decision: “The precautionary measure was taken due to the high risk of harm to bettors and the regulated market.”
Operation Arena
The administrative proceeding against Pixbet was initiated before Operation Arena, a joint investigation by the Federal Police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Revenue Service. The operation investigates suspected foreign exchange evasion and money laundering through sports betting, with analysis of corporate and financial structures abroad that may have hidden the origin and destination of funds.
