Education officials in the Brazilian state of Goiás are under investigation for allegedly diverting public school funds to finance online betting activities, according to the state’s Secretariat of Education (Seduc).
The cases involve the use of resources earmarked for schools on digital gambling platforms known in the country as ‘Jogo do Tigrinho.’
Jogo do Tigrinho is the popular Brazilian nickname for a digital slot-style game featuring a tiger theme, widely associated with unlicensed gambling platforms and illegal betting operations.
The inquiry, being conducted by Seduc’s internal affairs unit, has resulted in 15 administrative proceedings currently under investigation.
According to Seduc, the first reports of irregularities emerged two years ago and involve employees in management and financial roles across multiple schools.
The total amount diverted has not been disclosed, but the funds were reimbursed to prevent disruption to school operations.
An administrative assistant admitted to diverting approximately BR90,000 ($17,329) over a three-month period. In a police statement, the employee said the money was used to place bets with the intention of recovering losses and returning the funds to the school’s account, an effort that ultimately failed.
Industry groups responded to the case. In statements, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) stressed that licensed operators offer tools for problem gambling.
“It's worth highlighting that authorized platforms, following sector regulation, offer solutions such as self-assessment and self-exclusion tools to cater to bettors with this profile,” said the ANJL.
“The biggest risk for bettors lies in the illegal market, websites that operate outside the .bet.br domain,” added the IBJR.
All identified officials have been removed from their duties. The cases are being handled under judicial secrecy.
A recent case also involving ‘jogo do tigrinho’ had a Brazilian Mayor report his own mother to police over an alleged gambling-linked fraud scheme
