The senators who form the CPI das Bets approved this Tuesday (26) requests that invite influencer Felipe Neto and call on singer Gusttavo Lima to testify to the commission. Requests have two different weights, as the first allows the person mentioned not to attend, while the second is not subject to absence.
The requests were approved alongside others that include CEOs of platforms operating in Brazil, secretaries of public bodies linked to the regulation of online betting, among others.
In the same session, senators will hear the representative of the “Tigrinho game” in Brazil, Fernando Oliveira Lima, who.
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Among the approved requirements, the invitation to Felipe Neto was proposed by senator Dr. Hiran (PP-RR), who chairs the commission. However, in this modality, the influencer does not need to attend.
“In light of the public statements by digital influencer Felipe Neto, in which he admits to having promoted the Blaze betting house for around 10 months in 2023 and recognizes that this was one of the biggest failures of his career, we ask for your attendance at this CPI”, wrote in the application.
He believes that Felipe Neto can clarify information about how contracts between influencers and bookmakers are made, their promotion and the consequences.
On the other hand, Gustavo Lima’s summons, authored by senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), rapporteur of the commission, does not allow him to miss the session. She claims that the singer acquired 25% of the shares in VaideBet in July 2024, and that he is under investigation on suspicion of money laundering and illegal betting.
“The singer’s relationship with VaideBet administrators raises doubts about the integrity of financial transactions and his possible assistance to those under investigation in escaping from justice, which led to the issuing of an arrest warrant against him, which was later revoked. Furthermore, Gusttavo Lima is the company’s poster boy”, wrote the senator.
Gusttavo Lima will also need to provide information about one of his companies, Balada Eventos e Produções, as well as access to the Financial Intelligence Reports (RIF) produced by the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf).
There is no date for the statements to the CPI das Bets. Requests were also approved to hear representatives of the companies PixBet, PixtoPay, Multibet and UpBet; bodies such as Coaf and the Brazilian Sports Betting Association (Abraesp); Secretary Regis Dudena, from the Prizes and Bets Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance; and Secretary Wadih Damous, of the National Consumer Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice; between others.
A. The commission has the senator herself as rapporteur and is chaired by senator Dr. Hiram (PP-RR), expected to last 130 days.
For the senator, betting sites “are manipulated so that the person starts winning and, after becoming addicted and completely in debt, they start losing”.
This, he says, directly affects the budget of Brazilian families, as already shown in studies by market consultancies. The work plan also envisages drawing up a diagnosis of the current situation, identifying possible flaws in the regulation and supervision of betting platforms.
The CPI will work on eight axes, such as money laundering and currency evasion, consumer rights, financial transactions, socioeconomic impacts, advertising and social responsibility, algorithms and transparency on platforms, education and awareness and impacts on health.
“We list all the aspects: the responsibility of influencers, organized crime, currency evasion, how much is lost”, added Soraya.
Data from the Central Bank shows that, in August alone, R$21 billion was spent on betting.
