Ministry of Finance suspends Pixbet and cancels ongoing bets.
The Ministry of Finance has ordered the immediate suspension of Pixbet, a sports betting company based in Campina Grande, Paraíba. The precautionary measure, published this Thursday (August 13), cancels ongoing bets and requires the return of wagered amounts to users.
The decision is a direct result of Operation Arena, launched on the same day by the Federal Police in conjunction with the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Revenue Service. The operation investigates suspicions of currency evasion and money laundering through sports betting. The company owner, Ernildo Júnior, was approached by federal agents in Campina Grande; the car he was in and his cell phone were seized during the execution of a search and seizure warrant.
Reason for suspension
According to the precautionary measure issued by the Ministry of Finance, Pixbet allegedly failed to comply with the regulations required for monitoring and auditing companies in the sector. The Prizes and Betting Secretariat indicated that the company failed to submit information deemed mandatory by the agency.
The domains affected by the suspension are “pix.bet.br”, “ganhei.bet.br” and “betdasorte.bet.br”. Pixbet will only be able to resume operations after the required information is sent and the Prizes and Bets Secretariat confirms compliance with the rules. The Ministry of Finance has set a daily fine of R$ 200 in case of non-compliance with the order.
Operation Arena
Operation Arena targeted a business group suspected of using corporate and financial structures abroad to conceal the origin and destination of funds obtained through gambling and sports betting. In total, 19 search and seizure warrants were executed in Paraíba, São Paulo, Sergipe, Rio de Janeiro, and Paraná.
The measures authorized by the court include the lifting of bank and telecommunications secrecy and the seizure of up to R$ 1,1 billion. In Campina Grande, in addition to Pixbet's headquarters, the home of a man identified as a "front man" for the group was also searched. Those under investigation may face charges of currency evasion, money laundering, and other crimes against the national financial system.
Pixbet's defense team stated that they did not have access to the decision authorizing the operation and declared that they were "taken by surprise" by the actions. The lawyers informed that they will only comment after analyzing the court document.
