Google removes illegal casino app downloaded 500 times after complaint.
Google has removed an online casino app from its platform that was operating without legal permission in Brazil. The app allowed real money betting and had already been downloaded more than 500 times. The removal occurred in February 2026, after the news outlet Radar Big Tech notified the company about the irregularity.
The situation exposes a broader problem in online stores. A survey conducted by Tilt's Big Tech Radar It has identified at least 162 programs that simulate online casinos available on the Google Play Store. App StoreApple's app store hosts another 15 similar applications. The numbers reveal the size of the challenge faced by Brazilian authorities in combating illegal gambling in digital environments.
Different policies between Google and Apple
Google will allow regulated betting apps in its store starting in June 2025. Apple maintains a total ban on these platforms. App StoreThe differing policies of the two companies create an unequal landscape in the Brazilian market.
The oversight of these services depends on complaints and the ability of the technology companies themselves to detect violations. A 2024 presidential decree placed the so-called "sweeptakes" under the responsibility of the SPA (Secretariat of Prizes and Bets) of the Ministry of Finance. There is no legal obligation for these services to register with the ministry, which makes it difficult to control their operations.
The illegal market moves billions.
Calculations by the consulting firm LCA indicate that the illegal market represents between 41% and 51% of the entire betting sector in Brazil. This segment generates between R$ 26 billion and R$ 40 billion annually. The revenue that fails to reach public coffers amounts to between R$ 7,2 billion and R$ 10,8 billion per year.
In unauthorized apps, item purchases range from R$2,49 to R$5.200. The "Tigrinho 777" program allows donations between players, a mechanism that opens the door for transactions carried out outside the official platform.
A survey conducted by the Locomotiva Institute in June 2025 showed that 8 out of 10 gamblers report difficulty distinguishing between regulated and unregulated platforms. Three-quarters of gamblers stated they had played at unregulated betting sites or casinos. The proportion is higher among young people and those from families with an income of up to two minimum wages.
SPA inspection actions
SPA operates on four fronts to combat illegal online betting and gambling. The cyber front involves detecting and blocking irregular platforms, an action that has resulted in 25 suspensions. The financial front guides Brazilian banks to open accounts only for regulated betting sites. The advertising front works to remove advertising for irregular services. The regulatory front seeks to improve regulations.
App categories and tactics
The identified fraudulent applications use names such as "social casinos," "sweeptakes," or "sweeptakes casinos." Among the names found are "Tiger Drop," "Big Time - I Won Money," "Hard Rock Jackpot Planet," "Lucky Spin Slot: Slot Machines," "Xtreme Slots Vegas Casino Game," "HighRoller Vegas: Casino Slots," "Little Tiger 777," and "Huuuge Casino Slots Vegas 777."
Some games employ specific tactics to attract users. “Huuuge Casino Slots Vegas 777” uses services like Cointiply and Cashzine, which promise rewards in exchange for completing certain tasks in the digital world. In this game, the task involves reaching high levels. Users report that this cannot be achieved without purchasing virtual currency with real money.
How social casinos work
Most of these apps function as "social casinos," programs that replicate casino games like roulette and slot machines. In these games, users bet and receive virtual coins that cannot be converted into money or products. These platforms also do not require the player to buy virtual coins with real money to continue playing.
This characteristic classifies the games as "sweeptakes," prizes given to consumers at random and without any entry fee to participate or win. In the United States, "sweeptakes casinos" serve as an alternative for those who want to gamble online in states that prohibit online casinos. There is specific legislation for this. sweeptakes in the country, which requires these platforms to allow some form of free play.
In Brazil, there is no formal definition of sweeptakes. The 2024 presidential decree that reorganized the ministry subordinated "sweeptakes" to the SPA (Secretariat of Public Administration), but there is no legal obligation to register them with the ministry.
The removed app offered conversion to cash.
The “Tiger Drop” app explicitly offered the conversion of prizes into cash, which characterizes it as an online casino. This application was removed by Google. In Brazil, online casinos or betting sites need authorization from the SPA (Spanish Society of Authorities), through payment of a grant fee and compliance with regulations. Regulated sites have “.bet.br” in their address.
Other services found only on Google Play are “social casinos” that adopt creative ways to make winnings tangible. “Big Time – I Made Money” exchanges virtual tokens for cryptocurrencies like Iota and Solana. “Hard Rock Jackpot Planet” exchanges them for virtual points on its own platform that can be converted into products.
User complaints
Several "social casinos" state that they do not allow betting with real money, but sell virtual currency to players so they can continue betting. This dynamic leads bettors to believe that they will be able to withdraw the virtual currency they receive.
Adrian Botelho, in a comment on Google Play about the game "Lucky Spin Slot: slot machines", wrote: "We win virtual coins." in-game They initially suggest that we can convert it into money, but that's a lie. There is no withdrawal option; the developers earn money by... download"This app is deceptive, and we fell for it."
Another common complaint is that the free coins run out quickly and it's only possible to continue playing by paying. Many games are in English, but when buying coins, the language changes to Portuguese. This is the case with "Xtreme Slots Vegas Casino Game".
There are users who buy credits, have the money debited, but do not receive the virtual coins, as in "HighRoller Vegas: Casino Slots".
Risks for gamblers
Fábio Augusto Macorin, Undersecretary for Monitoring and Inspection at SPA, states that irregular betting sites pose risks to bettors due to fraud, such as difficulty in withdrawing prizes and flawed algorithms. There is also insecurity related to the lack of control over access and management of personal data, as well as a lack of customer service. In the case of legal betting sites, it is possible to file a complaint on consumidor.gov.
There is also unrestricted access for minors. Many apps identified by the report had a "free" rating and no age verification for players.
Regarding the legal nature of illegal gambling operations, it was clarified: “The illegal operation of gambling is a misdemeanor. It is not exactly a crime, but, depending on its repercussions, it can lead to crimes such as money laundering and organized crime.”
Legal obligations of platforms
The Betting Law (14.790/2023) establishes that it is the duty of digital platforms not to offer illegal games. Only operators with the domain “.bet.br” are authorized to operate legally in Brazil.
Two of SPA's lines of action involve big tech companies directly. There are cooperation agreements with Conar (National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation) for advertisements and commercials, and with the Digital Council, an association that represents the interests of Discord, Google, Kwai, Meta, OpenAI, and TikTok.
Another source interviewed by Radar Big Tech stated: "a priori, yes, they are also responsible in relation to these applications."
Criticism from the regulated sector
Leonardo Benites, director of the National Association of Games and Lotteries – ANJL, criticized the situation: “We want – and believe we should – pay the taxes. Then Apple or Android comes along putting an illegal betting app in the store.”"It's a slap in the face to anyone who wants to do the right thing."*
Benites also assessed that combating only irregular applications would be "a waste of time." He argued: "No regulation will have the speed of creativity or technology of the illegal. You need to starve it to death. How? Payment methods and..." marketing"Because if he doesn't make money and has no way to transfer that money, the operation isn't worthwhile. It becomes an internal executive decision for him instead of a fight."
Changes to Google's internal rules
Google changed its internal rules at the end of 2025 to treat games classified as "sweepstakes casinos" with the same rigor applied to online casinos and betting sites. This change allowed platforms to be classified simply as "social casinos." The distinction between the categories raises questions about the legality of these applications available in the company's digital store.
Macorin, from SPA, stated regarding "sweepstakes casinos": "The 'social casino' is nothing more than a 'sweepstakes' and falls under the same regulations we have, which makes these apps illegal, yes. However, the platforms still don't quite understand this."
Google stated in a press release: “When we identify apps that violate our policies or are not authorized under Brazilian law, we remove them from the store. Any user can report violations through our official channels.”
