Esportes da Sorte added to approved operator list in Brazil
Business allowed to go live in transitionary period with government approval despite being embroiled in illegal gambling sting
Esportes da Sorte has been added to the Brazilian government’s approved list of operators following a court challenge from the operator.
Esportes da Sorte will now be allowed to operate the Esportes da Sorte and OnaBet brands in Brazil through to the end of the year, ahead of the market’s launch on 1 January 2025.
The operator becomes the 98th company to be added to the approved list by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and the country’s regulator, the SPA.
An initial 89-strong list was published on 2 October, with several companies being added after that date, including Parimatch and Stake.
Companies on the list have applied for a Brazilian licence and will be allowed to operate in a probationary period while the government reviews each application.
Esportes da Sorte had originally been left off the list as it found itself embroiled in a multi-agency operation focused on money laundering and illegal gambling.
The scandal saw the operator’s CEO, Darwin Henrique da Silva Filho, hand himself over to the police.
‘Operation Integration’ was set up to crack a criminal organisation that is alleged to have moved just shy of BRL3bn (£406m) through illegal gambling.
Esportes da Sorte and Filho denied all allegations against the company.
In the fallout, and finding itself off of the national register, Esportes da Sorte acquired a controlling stake in ST Soft and was subsequently granted approval to operate in Rio de Janeiro state by Loterj.
The company is now listed on the Ministry of Finance’s official document, albeit with an asterisk noting it is “included due to court order”.
While the court order was not disclosed by the government, Loterj, the de facto licensing body in Rio de Janiero state, is challenging whether its affiliated operators will be able to offer services nationwide rather than only inside the state.
Esports da Sorte also received backing from Brazilian football club Corinthians this month, with the operator serving as the team’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
A club statement read: “Corinthians reaffirms its trust in Esportes da Sorte, our sponsorship partner, which has been fully complying with the contract.
“The club is in contact with the partner and has sent a request for clarification on the status and next steps of the operation. The club remains attentive to any developments in the case, always prioritising the interests of the institution and our loyal fans.”