In a significant move for Brazil, Brazilian authorities have dismantled a major illegal gambling network in a sweeping enforcement effort named Operation Red Card. The Civil Police of Santa Catarina led the raid, targeting unlicensed betting sites and seizing approximately BRL 30 million (USD $5.4 million) in assets, including real estate, luxury vehicles, and bank funds.
Targeting Fortune Tiger and Other Unlicensed Games
The investigation focused on platforms like Fortune Tiger—popularly known in Brazil as Jogo do Tigrinho—along with illegal bingo games, slot-style websites, and jogo do bicho, a lottery-style numbers game that remains banned in the country.
Authorities carried out operations across multiple cities in southern Brazil to disrupt unlawful gambling activities effectively. Their main goal was to financially paralyze a group accused of running these unlicensed gambling schemes.
Use of Shell Companies and Money Laundering
According to the Civil Police, the operators created shell companies to launder illicit earnings in Brazil. Investigators discovered that at least one now-legal platform originally operated through a company previously involved in illegal gambling.
The group’s inner circle reportedly includes at least 10 individuals from whom officers confiscated computers, documents, and digital records. These items may reveal deeper connections and financial trails.
Brazil’s Ongoing Regulatory Reforms
This operation builds on earlier crackdowns that also led to the seizure of dozens of properties and vehicles tied to unlicensed betting across the country.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Secretary of Prizes and Betting has unveiled its 2025–2026 regulatory roadmap. Priorities include issuing licenses, boosting enforcement, and improving consumer protection in Brazil.
Stronger Enforcement as Brazil’s Regulation Evolves
As Brazil moves toward a fully regulated gambling environment, law enforcement is stepping up actions against illegal operators. These raids throughout Brazil underline the government’s commitment to creating a safer and more transparent betting ecosystem for Brazilian consumers.
