Esportes Gaming Brasil has raised concerns regarding consumer protection against fraudulent betting sites, urging bettors that checking for a .bet.br domain must be just the starting point when verifying legitimate operators. On National Online Betting Day, the Brazilian gaming group outlined seven key measures for consumers to differentiate authorized operators from illegal platforms, cloned websites, and potential scams.
Since January 1, 2025, only companies licensed by Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) are permitted to offer betting activities across the country, with licensed websites utilizing the .bet.br domain. However, Esportes Gaming Brasil cautioned that deceitful sites can mimic the names, branding, promotions, and social media presence of authentic operators to trick consumers.
Carol Luna, the Head of Compliance at Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, stated, ".bet.br is the first filter, but security does not end with checking the domain." She emphasized the importance of looking at the complete user experience, which includes understanding who operates the brand, how identity is verified, acceptable payment sources, available control tools, and customer support access.
The organization underscored seven critical points for consumers evaluating a betting site: checking the operator’s status on the SPA’s official list, accessing platforms through verified channels rather than relying on ads or search engines, ensuring robust identity verification is in place, confirming payment methods, looking for responsible gambling tools like limits and self-exclusion options, ensuring clear customer support availability, and being cautious of any promises of guaranteed profits or loss recovery.
Esportes Gaming Brasil also mentioned that identity verification distinguishes regulated operators from illegal betting platforms, as authorized companies are compelled to verify bettor details and implement authentication techniques such as facial recognition coupled with proof of life.
Luna further noted that while verification might seem like an extra hurdle, it has practical benefits. It prevents underage access, identity fraud, and transactions that don’t align with account holder information. She stressed that consumer protection must be ongoing throughout the entire player journey, not ending after account registration. Regulated websites offer tools for managing financial and time limits, as well as self-exclusion, while transactions should occur between the operator and accounts in the bettor's name.
In conclusion, Luna stressed that a regulated market must empower consumers with ample information to make informed decisions and recognize their limits. "Safety is not simply about preventing fraud during registration. It is also about ensuring transparency, access to control tools, and support for those who choose to stop gambling."
