The ban on betting sites in Brazil raises concerns over the unauthorized use of the image of public figures, such as businessman Daniel Vorcaro, on clandestine sports betting platforms.
The sports betting market in Brazil faces a new challenge with the restriction on platform advertising. The ban on fixed-odds betting could trigger a severe side effect: the proliferation of the unauthorized use of images of business figures, athletes, and artists on illegal websites.
The emergence of pages that use the name and face of Daniel Vorcaro, former owner of Banco Master, as a reference for the sector exposes an alarming legal risk for the digital ecosystem and the world of sports.
With the new rules established by the Provisional Measure, the oversight of unregulated betting sites becomes more complex. In this uncertain scenario, illegal brands take advantage of the prestige of public figures to convey a false sense of legitimacy.
The goal of these criminal networks is to mislead consumers by creating fictitious partnerships that attract unsuspecting bettors and tarnish the reputation of innocent people in the sports and business communities.
Attorney Marcelo Robalinho, an expert in Image Rights, stated:
When a platform uses the name or image of a well-known person to attract bettors without authorization, the problem is not limited to irregular advertising. This practice can violate personality rights and create an undue association between the portrayed individual and an activity with which they have no connection whatsoever.
Challenges in removing illegal content
Brazilian legislation strictly protects image rights and honor. However, combating clandestine websites requires strategy. Platforms based on foreign domains or operated under false identities make it difficult to identify the true culprits.
Experts recommend the immediate collection of evidence, such as screenshots and timestamp records, before domains go offline.
Marcelo Robalinho explained:
One of the main obstacles is identifying who is behind the page and preserving evidence before the content is deleted or the address stops working. Therefore, it is important to save screenshots, links, dates, and other records that demonstrate the use of the image and the undue association.
The role of influencers and next steps
The reputational impact on public figures wrongfully associated with sports betting can be devastating. Beyond anonymous pages, the sports ecosystem must monitor the activity of content creators and tipsters who might promote such illegal brands.
Holding these agents jointly liable may be the path for law enforcement authorities to reach the masterminds behind the fraudulent schemes.
Marcelo Robalinho concluded:
If any of these content creators are promoting this illegal site, it is important to document that as well, because this can be a way for the judiciary or police authorities to reach those responsible, in addition to the possibility of joint liability.
As the net tightens around the irregular betting market, protecting the image of public figures will require constant vigilance and swift legal action.
The projection for the coming months points to an increase in legal notices and content removal requests in an attempt to shield the names of business executives and athletes against the rise of digital piracy in the online gaming sector.
