Two clandestine bingo halls were closed in the city of Itaquaquecetuba, São Paulo, by the national Military Police.
67 illegal slot machines were also seized during the overnight operation. The raids resulted in the arrest of at least one individual responsible for operating the illegal equipment.
At one of the locations, a serious medical incident occurred during the police action as a pregnant woman suffered a sudden haemorrhage while inside the venue.
Emergency services were called and she was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Despite medical intervention, police said the baby did not survive.
In the first address, officers found 11 slot machines commonly known as caça-níqueis. The individual identified as responsible for the premises was taken to the police station, and the machines were seized as part of the investigation.
At the second address, dozens of additional machines were confiscated and the site was closed for operating without authorization.
Authorities said the case highlights the risks associated with illegal gambling environments, which often lack basic safety conditions, oversight or consumer protection.
Beyond financial crimes, law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that clandestine gambling venues can expose patrons to health emergencies, unsafe infrastructure and criminal activity.
Brazilian authorities are working to curb illegal gambling and mitigate its social impact, both land-based and online.
As part of this effort, the Federal Government has recently launched a centralized self-exclusion tool allowing individuals to voluntarily block themselves from online operators, part of a wider harm-reduction strategy.
Brazilian Federal Police has recently dismantled a betting scheme that was linked to human trafficking
