Bets on the Pope: bookmaker FlaBet broke the law and is under investigation
The brand FlaBet, operated by Pixbet, the title sponsor of the Flamengo football club, found itself at the center of a scandal after opening bets on the election of the next Pope.
What happened
The platform FlaBet, associated with the Flamengo football club and operated by Pixbet, came under scrutiny after offering bets on the name of the next Pope. These bets were placed under the “Politics” category, which directly violates current Brazilian legislation.
According to Article 3 of Law No. 14,790, which came into force in December 2023, only bets on actual sports and esports events are permitted. Any wagers involving political or religious events are considered illegal.
Who was offered as a choice
At the time the bets were published on the FlaBet website, the favorites were:
| Candidate | Country | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Pietro Parolin | Italy | 3.0 |
| Péter Erdő | Hungary | 9.0 |
| Other candidates | — | up to 35.0 |
How Pixbet and the authorities reacted
After inquiries from the newspaper Estadão, the bets were removed, and Pixbet issued a statement calling the incident an “operational error by an international odds provider”.
Pixbet emphasized that adding such markets “does not reflect the company’s compliance policy” and is an “unintentional violation”. Nevertheless, the Brazilian Ministry of Finance has launched an official investigation into the company’s operations.
Possible consequences
For violating the law, the bookmaker could face:
- Fines of up to $352 million
- Revocation of its operating license
It is worth noting that the contract between Pixbet and Flamengo is valued at 470 million reais (approximately $82.7 million) over four years. So far, the club itself has not commented on the incident.
What the law says
Below is an excerpt from Law No. 14,790:
- Bets are allowed only on real sports events
- Bets are allowed on online games, such as esports
- Bets are prohibited on politics, religion, and other areas
Conclusion
Breaking the law in the betting industry—especially involving a major club like Flamengo—raises serious concerns among regulators. The fate of Pixbet’s license now depends on the outcome of the Ministry of Finance’s investigation.