Brazil police forms Base Apostas to target betting fraud

Brazil’s Federal Police has established Base Apostas, a specialist unit focused on sports match-fixing, betting fraud and related financial crimes.

The group will sit under the General Coordination for the Repression of Corruption, Financial Crimes and Money Laundering, placing betting integrity within Brazil’s broader organized crime enforcement structure.

Its remit includes fixed-odds betting fraud, manipulation of sports competitions, private corruption, money laundering and asset recovery. 

The unit has been created as Brazil continues to tighten oversight of its betting sector following the launch of the regulated fixed-odds market in January 2025. 

Only authorized operators are allowed to offer national betting services under Law No. 14,790/2023 and related Ministry of Finance rules.

Base Apostas will operate with police officers specialized in financial intelligence, data analysis, digital platform monitoring, asset recovery and investigations into criminal organizations connected to the sports betting ecosystem.

The Federal Police said the group will focus on identifying criminal leaders, financial intermediaries, strategic bettors and sports agents involved in illicit schemes.

The structure will initially operate for one year, with possible extension subject to review by the Directorate of Investigation and Combat against Organized Crime and Corruption. 

The announcement follows Brazil’s April launch of the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of the Manipulation of Sports Results, which is designed to centralize information and coordinate reporting around suspicious sports activity.

Brazil has faced recurring concerns around match manipulation since Operation Maximum Penalty, a 2023 investigation into football betting schemes that led to sporting sanctions against several players.

The new unit also reflects wider enforcement pressure around illegal gambling. Brazilian authorities have continued to target unlicensed betting sites, prediction market platforms and illegal lottery networks as regulators attempt to separate the licensed market from activity linked to money laundering and organized crime.

Last month, Brazilian police investigated an illegal lottery ring in Londrina connected to alleged “jogo do bicho” activity, arms possession and environmental offenses.