Brazil: ANJL Identifies 802 Influencers Promoting Illegal Betting
Brazil – 12 November 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com The Brazilian National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has identified 802 Instagram influencer accounts promoting suspected illegal betting platforms, according to research conducted through its monitoring tool LegitBet.
The investigation, based on data consolidated on 2 November 2026, examined 48,318 profiles and identified posts directing users to 844 different websites.
The findings highlight the scale of unauthorised gambling promotion on social media and raise concerns about consumer protection and underage exposure.
More Than 800 Accounts Linked to Illegal Betting
LegitBet began monitoring social media shortly before Brazil’s regulated betting market launched on 1 January 2025.
The 802 accounts identified represent only those detected so far, meaning the actual number could be substantially higher.
During a single monitoring session on 27 October, the system recorded:
- 908 accounts reviewed in one hour and 25 minutes.
- 626 profiles sharing links to suspected illegal betting websites.
- 500 newly identified web addresses.
- 396 links displaying characteristics associated with affiliate marketing.
The figures demonstrate how rapidly promotional content associated with unauthorised operators circulates online.
Most Influencers Have Between 10,000 and 100,000 Followers
The study also examined the size of the audiences reached by the identified accounts.
The distribution was as follows:
- 73%: between 10,000 and 100,000 followers.
- 23.6%: between 100,000 and one million followers.
- 2.9%: fewer than 10,000 followers.
- 0.5%: more than one million followers.
The results indicate that illegal betting promotion is not limited to celebrities or major digital personalities, but also involves a substantial network of medium-sized content creators.
ANJL estimates that the potential audience could range from 5.9 million to 59.4 million people, although these figures do not necessarily represent unique users.
Recurring Advertising and Hundreds of Promoted Websites
Another significant finding concerns the frequency of promotional content.
Almost 74% of the 802 accounts published new posts containing suspicious gambling links at least once every three days.
Altogether, the identified influencers shared links directing users to 844 different websites.
The most frequently promoted link appeared across 86 accounts.
According to ANJL, this activity demonstrates that social media has become an important customer acquisition channel for operators outside the legal framework.
Concerns Over Exposure of Minors
Plínio Lemos Jorge, President of ANJL, warned about the risks associated with this advertising, particularly for younger audiences.
He highlighted that Instagram allows users aged 13 and above to open accounts, potentially exposing teenagers to promotions for illegal betting platforms.
The association noted that unauthorised operators may lack the age verification and player protection safeguards required of regulated businesses.
Protecting minors is among the principal reasons ANJL is calling for stronger action from technology companies.
ANJL Calls for Action from Meta, Google, TikTok and X
In early September, ANJL sent formal extrajudicial notices to Meta, Google, TikTok and X, requesting concrete measures to combat illegal betting advertising.
The association called for a permanent enforcement plan covering:
- Identification of suspicious accounts and content.
- Removal of illegal promotional posts.
- De-indexing of unauthorised gambling websites.
- Blocking of accounts, applications and links associated with illegal operators.
According to ANJL, the technology companies did not respond to its notifications.
The association believes stronger cooperation is needed between digital platforms and organisations monitoring the gambling market.
Betting Ban Creates Additional Challenges
The findings come amid major changes to Brazil’s legal framework following Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, which introduced a prohibition affecting the previously licensed betting market.
ANJL argues that this decision has weakened coordination between formerly regulated gambling companies and technology platforms.
Plínio Lemos Jorge criticised the legal uncertainty created by the measure, arguing that illegal operators are the main beneficiaries.
The association supports restoring a regulated market as a way to strengthen oversight and reduce consumer access to unauthorised platforms.
Government Also Intensifies Enforcement
On 9 November, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security announced that it had requested the removal of 348 Instagram accounts promoting illegal betting.
According to official figures, the identified accounts had a combined following exceeding 150 million.
The ministry also reported that its monitoring activities had identified more than 60,000 websites, pages, profiles and groups linked to irregular betting promotions since 25 September.
These figures come from a government investigation separate from ANJL’s LegitBet research.
Both initiatives demonstrate growing attention to the digital promotion of unauthorised gambling services.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
LegitBet’s findings highlight the importance of monitoring not only betting websites but also the digital channels used to attract customers.
ANJL believes effective enforcement requires oversight of three key elements: the accounts promoting gambling services, the websites receiving users and the payment methods supporting these operations.
The association intends to continue advocating stronger monitoring and cooperation with technology companies to reduce illegal gambling advertising.
The identification of 802 influencers demonstrates the scale of Brazil’s challenge in combating unauthorised betting promotions on social media and strengthening consumer protection.
Editó: @fonta
