Fortune Tiger is a type of virtual slot game permitted under Brazilian law.
The popularity of 'Fortune Tiger' or 'Jogo do Tigrinho' (Little Tiger Game) made headlines in the mainstream media, gained significant exposure in the national press, and became the most popular slot game in Brazil. Considered entertainment anywhere in the world, the game ended up becoming synonymous with controversy in Brazil, but it shouldn't be.
Technically, Fortune Tiger, which was launched in 2022 by PG Soft (Pocket Games Software Limited), is nothing more than a virtual slot game, whose operation is practically identical to that of any "slot machine" type game offered on most online gaming sites available on any global betting platform.
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Malta, with offices in Europe, Asia, and North America, the game's producer holds licenses in Malta, Gibraltar, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, PG Soft games are certified by independent laboratories BMM Testlabs and Gaming Associates Europe and have licenses from Gibraltar, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the UK Gambling Commission. PG Soft is also the developer of other games that follow the same logic as Fortune Tiger, such as Fortune Rabbit, Fortune Mouse, Fortune Gods, and Fortune Ox.
Fortune Tiger is a slot game themed around a journey to ancient China, where a rare golden tiger grants the gift of immortality and other mystical powers. The winner is the one lucky enough to match three symbols on the paylines. Bets range from R$0,50 to R$600 per round. According to the websites of online casinos that offer Fortune Tiger, its RTP (Return-To-Player) is 96,96% – a percentage that indicates the probability of the player getting a return on their wagered money.
Part of Fortune Tiger's success lies in the potential for higher winnings than similar games because it's based on the roulette's 10x multiplier and re-spin bonus rounds, which can increase the return on your bet by up to 2.500 times.
Legality
Currently, online games, such as Fortune Tiger, are legal in Brazil following the approval of Law 14.790/23 and regulated by Ordinance SPA/MF 1.207/24 issued by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance – SPA/MF.
Being a classic slot game, where the outcome is determined exclusively by a random generator of figures or symbols, the dynamics of Fortune Tiger fall under the concept of online gambling as stipulated in Brazilian legislation, which will come into effect on December 31st of this year.
Therefore, there is clear legal support for it to be offered in Brazil, provided that the operator is authorized to operate in our country by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance or, alternatively, acts as a concessionaire of a state lottery service. In other words, the Fortune Tiger game is neither irregular nor illegal, because its operating dynamics fit the concept of a game as defined in Brazilian legislation as an online game in virtual gaming events.
The controversy observed in the police operations stems from accusations that people are offering betting opportunities by improperly using the Fortune Tiger brand through demo versions of the game or creating imitations of it to allegedly scam bettors. The problem is not Fortune Tiger itself, but rather the conduct of those who, in a cunning manner, are simulating or defrauding this game to obtain illicit gain.
In other words, the problem isn't Fortune Tiger, popularly known as the Little Tiger Game, but the misguided way it's being promoted by some influencers through unrealistic promises about potential winnings. The solution will undoubtedly involve regulating the law that authorized the game and its effective enforcement.
PG Soft partners with the National Association of Games and Lotteries.
