Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) has fined Blaze BR2.3m ($451,000) over advertising material featuring children and adolescents and aimed at audiences under 18.
Blaze's parent company, Foggo Entertainment, has 10 days to file an administrative appeal.
Foggo said it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings and said its activities and partnerships are "guided by strict compliance with the country's legislation and current regulations."
SPA identified 33 promotional videos published between March and July 2025 through a partnership with influencer João Caetano, who has more than 15 million YouTube subscribers and 3 million Instagram followers.
Caetano's team did not respond to a request for comment. Brazil's betting law, its responsible gambling ordinance and the Child and Adolescent Statute all prohibit targeting minors in online betting promotion.
According to SPA, the fine was directed at Blaze rather than the influencer because the company bears responsibility for regulatory compliance across its entire promotional chain.
Blaze argued it acted quickly to end its contract with the influencer once it became aware of the violations. SPA found, however, that the influencer's contract required him to follow a briefing and standards set by Blaze, indicating he operated under the company's direct coordination and control rather than independently.
The regulator also noted the videos remained online for four months, pointing to a failure in Blaze's oversight duties.
In a separate statement, Foggo said it is "constantly evolving and improving its internal processes and controls and has unrestricted respect for due legal process."
Recently, Brazil football star Neymar faced online criticism after posting a promotional video for Blaze shortly after being confirmed in Brazil's squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil's Public Prosecutor's Office has filed a civil lawsuit against Blaze and influencer Virginia Fonseca seeking BR120m in collective moral damages
