Testimony from Brazilian influencer Virginia Fonseca has underpinned the urgent need for further clarity surrounding the advertising standards of the Bets regime.
Fonseca, a beauty and lifestyle influencer who has amassed over 50 million followers across various social media platforms, was questioned by Senators on the influence of celebrities promoting online gambling platforms – particularly prior to the establishment of the regulated Bets regime on 1 January 2025.
Investigators have unearthed examples of influencers using “demo accounts” to promote betting platforms, often displaying unrealistic or exaggerated winnings.
Fonseca appeared not to understand the concept of demo accounts and insisted that she only followed a script provided by brands and did not use her personal account for promotional footage. She revealed that any appearances on her social media were based on mock or platform-supplied accounts.
“I’m speaking for myself — I don’t know how other influencers operate. I always make it clear. Normally, I do three stories. In two I speak, and in one I show how to play,” she explained.
She also denied the existence of clauses in her contract with betting platforms that offered any type of commission linked to player losses.
“My contract offered 30% more if I doubled the company’s profit, which never happened. It was a fixed amount, unrelated to followers’ losses,” she said. She further claimed to have refused all proposals from unlicensed operators.
The debate surrounding prior conduct has been sparked by investigators considering the possibility of retroactive penalties for prior illicit activity.
Officials are seeking to establish if marketing during the “legal limbo prior to regulation” targeted minors or vulnerable audiences.
Pressed on her own conduct, Fonseca’s defence of her actions and apparent lack of knowledge surrounding what she was promoting appeared to some as a clear reflection of a wider culture of influencers lacking regulatory training prior to endorsing gaming products.
Although it is unclear if her testimony will lead to any legislative change, the Brazilian Senate is currently reviewing two bills aimed at establishing a statutory framework for gambling advertising.
The first, tabled by Senator Styvenson Valentim, proposes a sweeping ban on gambling advertisements across all media channels.
In contrast, the second adopts a more moderate stance, calling for prior regulatory approval for advertising campaigns. It will also prohibit the use of public figures, such as athletes, celebrities and influencers, in any form of endorsement.
