Strict Advertising Rules: Brazilian Court Sets Boundaries for Blaze and Influencer

The era of unfiltered casino advertising on social media is becoming significantly more difficult in Brazil. A competent appellate court has imposed extensive advertising obligations on the gambling operator Blaze and the well-known influencer Virginia Fonseca. The ruling forces those involved to remove all content that violates the new requirements within just 48 hours. This affects a wide range of formats such as Instagram stories, reels, livestreams, and feed posts. The mixing of private content and paid advertising, which must now be clearly identified as such, is particularly sensitive.

The judiciary is reacting to the practice of placing gambling in the midst of family daily life, travel photos, or daily routines. The court makes it clear that the playful and often harmless appearance of these posts represents a danger to consumers. In particular, gambling may no longer be presented as an investment, an alternative income, or a solution to financial problems. The judges demand full transparency regarding the risks of loss. Promotional promises that guarantee winnings or create the impression that one can play without the risk of losing money are strictly prohibited from now on.

Numbers and facts

The economic dimension involved in this case is massive. According to an accounting statement covering the first eleven months of 2025 and submitted by the MPDFT, Blaze recorded deposits of approximately BRL 11 billion from Brazil. The gross gaming revenue (GGR) in this period amounted to BRL 1.9 billion. After deducting all costs, a net profit of BRL 361 million remained. To generate these sums, the company reached deep into its pockets and invested around BRL 330 million in advertising measures alone.

If Blaze or Virginia Fonseca violate the court order, it will be expensive. The court set a fine of BRL 100,000 for each individual, proven breach. These penalty payments are initially capped at a total amount of BRL 2 million. In addition, Foggo Entertainment, the operator behind the Blaze brand, and the influencer are required to keep copies of all removed posts, including metadata and promotional records, to enable a later review.

Background

The proceedings were pushed forward by the MPDFT (Public Prosecutor's Office of the Federal District and Territories). While a lower court initially rejected the request for urgent relief, judge Renato Rodovalho Scussel partially granted the request in the second instance. A central point of the investigation also concerned the remuneration models. The ministry expressed suspicion that payments to influencers could be directly linked to the betting volume, the losses of the players, or the performance of the operator, which is highly controversial ethically.

Judge Scussel, however, did not see sufficient evidence for this at the current stage of the proceedings. Blaze itself defended itself to the media outlet UOL and emphasized that the partnerships do not contain commissions or clauses based on player losses. Nevertheless, this aspect remains under observation as soon as contracts and further evidence are submitted.

„Conditions of all offers such as bonuses, free spins, rewards, and promotional odds cannot be left in small print or placed only in external terms.“ - Renato Rodovalho Scussel, Appellate Judge at MPDFT

Why it matters for German players

For German players moving in the local market, such occurrences are a warning to be cautious. The German State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) already sets extremely high hurdles for advertising to avoid exactly such excesses as in Brazil. In Germany, providers must be on the so-called whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) in order to act legally. Anyone playing with providers like Blaze, who do not have a GGL license, is moving in the area of illegal gambling and enjoys no legal protection by German authorities.

The GGL also strictly monitors the deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month across all providers, which is controlled by the LUGAS system. The betting limit of 1 euro per spin for online slots is also a fixed component of German player protection. While there is a dispute in Brazil about the labeling of bonuses in the fine print, German regulation already ensures that bonuses must not be misleading. Anyone playing at unregulated MGA or Curacao casinos risks not only legal problems but often has no recourse for non-payment or misleading advertising by influencers.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos with a GGL license must understand the ruling in Brazil as a shot across the bow. Although the ruling legally only applies to Blaze and Fonseca, it shows the worldwide trend towards a tougher approach against non-transparent influencer advertising. The requirements that risk warnings and bonus conditions must be presented with the same prominence as the advantages of the offer coincide with the spirit of German regulation. German providers should review their marketing strategies to ensure that influencer collaborations never give the impression that gambling is a serious source of income.

The obligation to store metadata and deleted posts is another point that shows how transparent marketing processes must be today. For the German market, this means a confirmation of the strict path. Providers who do not adhere to the advertising guidelines risk their license and high fines from the GGL. Real player protection only works if the line between entertainment and financial danger is clearly drawn and not blurred by lifestyle content.