On the morning of Tuesday (13), the digital influencer Virginia Fonseca began his testimony to the Bets Parliamentary Commission (CPI) in the Senate. Accompanied by her husband, Zé Felipe, Virginia arrived shortly before 10:45 am and was asked about her advertising contracts with bookmakers.
During the session, the influencer reaffirmed that he always warned her followers about the risks associated with bets and that her contracts did not contain the so -called “disgrace clause”, which would guarantee a commission on the gamblers’ losses.
CPI rapporteur, Senator Soraya Thronicke (Somos-MS), began the session clarifying that the goal was not to expose Virginia, but to understand the performance of influencers in promoting gambling.
The senator highlighted the concern about the possibility that these contracts encourage harmful behaviors, such as betting addiction.
“No one wins the bets; they exist to win over the gambler,” said Soraya, stressing the importance of discussing the social impact of these practices.
Virginia, in her defense, stated that she always followed the legislation and that her posts made it clear that the bets involve risks.
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“When I post, I always make it very clear that it is a game that can win and can lose,” he said.
In addition, the influencer stressed that he never encouraged her followers to bet as a way of making money and has always respected the guidelines of the National Council for Advertising (Conar).
During the testimony, Virginia also denied that her lucky sports contract included a clause that benefited her from the gamblers’ losses.
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“My contract was fixed, and if I folded the profit, I would receive 30% more. But that did not happen,” he explained.
The influencer agreed to provide copies of contracts to the CPI, which will be kept confidential due to confidentiality clauses.
The Bets CPI, installed in November last year, investigates the influence of online bets on the financial life of Brazilian families and the possible association of these practices with criminal organizations.
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Virginia will not be the only influencer to testify; The commission plans to listen to other relevant names of the digital scenario, such as Rico Melquiades and Adélia Soares, seeking to clarify the role of influencers in promoting gambling and discussing a possible industry regulation.
