Brazil's Ministry of Finance ordered the immediate suspension of Pixbet, a bookmaker based in Paraíba state. The measure cancels all active bets and requires refunds to players. The decision follows Operation Arena, a joint action by federal police, prosecutors, the finance ministry and tax authorities on Thursday. The company group is under investigation for currency evasion and money laundering through betting.
Pixbet owner Ernildo Júnior was detained in Campina Grande the same day. Police seized a vehicle and a phone during the search. His defence said it had no access to the order and was 'caught off guard'.
According to the ministry, Pixbet failed to meet monitoring and oversight requirements for betting operators. The company lacks problem-gambling controls and did not provide information requested by the Secretariat for Prizes and Betting (SPA). It operates the domains pix.bet.br, ganhei.bet.br and betdasorte.bet.br.
'The measure was taken due to high risk to players and the regulated market', SPA stated. Tax authorities ordered sites linked to the company shut down. Operations may resume only after data submission and compliance confirmation. Non-compliance carries a daily fine of BRL200,000. In Rio de Janeiro and Paraná, where Pixbet holds local licences, operations will continue.
Operation Arena is investigating the use of offshore structures to conceal the origin of funds from gambling and betting. Nineteen searches were carried out across five states, with asset freezes of up to BRL1.1 billion. Suspects face charges for currency crimes, money laundering and violations of the financial system. SPA clarified that sanction proceedings against Pixbet began before the police operation.
