Esportes Gaming Brasil Warns .bet.br Alone Is Not Enough to Protect Bettors from Fraudulent Sites

Operator marks National Online Betting Day with seven checks to help consumers identify regulated platforms and avoid illegal and fraudulent operators

Esportes Gaming Brasil has urged consumers to take a broader approach when checking whether an online betting platform is legitimate, warning that while a .bet.br domain is an important indicator, it should not be the only check bettors make.

Marking National Online Betting Day, the Brazilian betting group outlined seven checks consumers can use to distinguish authorised operators from illegal sites, cloned pages and fraudulent platforms.

Since 1 January 2025, only companies authorised by Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) have been permitted to operate nationally, with licensed betting websites using the .bet.br domain.

However, Esportes Gaming Brasil warned that fraudulent operators can imitate the names, branding, advertising and social media profiles of legitimate companies in an attempt to deceive consumers.

Carol Luna, Head of Compliance at Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, said:

“.bet.br is the first filter, but security does not end with checking the domain. Consumers should look at the entire experience: who operates the brand, how their identity is verified, where payments can come from, which control tools are available and how customer support can be accessed.”

Esportes Gaming Brasil identified seven areas consumers should consider when assessing a betting platform.

These include checking the operator against the SPA’s official list; accessing platforms through verified channels rather than relying solely on advertisements or search results; confirming that appropriate identity verification is carried out; checking the available payment methods; looking for betting limits and self-exclusion tools; ensuring clear customer support is available; and being cautious of promises of guaranteed profits or offers to recover previous losses.

The group also highlighted identity verification as an important distinction between regulated and illegal betting environments.

Authorised operators are required to verify bettor information and use authentication measures, including facial recognition with proof of life.

Luna added:

“Verification may initially be perceived as an additional step, but it serves a very practical purpose. It helps prevent underage access, the misuse of another person’s identity, fraud and transactions that are inconsistent with the account holder.”

Esportes Gaming Brasil stressed that consumer protection should continue throughout the entire player journey, rather than ending once an account has been opened.

Regulated platforms provide tools such as financial and time limits and self-exclusion, while payments must be made between the operator and a bank or payment account held in the bettor’s own name.

Luna concluded:

“A regulated market needs to provide consumers with enough information to make informed decisions and recognise their own limits. Safety is not simply about preventing fraud during registration. It is also about ensuring transparency, access to control tools and support for anyone who decides to stop gambling.”