177% up to 5BTC + 77 Free Spins!
New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 177% + 77 Free Spins
Brazilian influencer Virginia Fonseca recently appeared before the Senate inquiry investigating the promotion of online betting. Lawmakers are reviewing how gambling ads, especially those shared by public figures, impact society and younger audiences.
Good to know
Virginia Fonseca, who has more than 50 million Instagram followers, took the stand in a Senate session tied to Brazil’s ongoing investigation into online betting ads. The inquiry, known locally as “CPI das Bets,” is focused on the legal, financial and social effects of betting promotions, especially when promoted by influencers.
Fonseca chose not to reveal how much she has earned from her betting deals, exercising her legal right to remain silent. However, she told the commission that every payment she received from these advertisements had been properly declared to Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service.
During the hearing, Fonseca denied being involved in a contract setup where influencers are paid based on user losses—something critics call the “cachê da desgraça” or “disgrace salary.” She firmly stated that her personal income did not come from such models.
When asked about her financial status, Fonseca dismissed claims that betting ads made her wealthy. She pointed instead to her main business, which, according to her, generated BRL 750 million (around $134 million) last year.
Senator Soraya Thronicke, who leads the inquiry, highlighted that Fonseca began promoting betting ads in December 2022—well before Brazil’s updated gambling laws came into effect in 2025. Fonseca responded by saying her legal team operated under Brazil’s 2018 fixed-odds betting law, which was in place at the time.
Concerns were also raised about the age of her audience. In response, Fonseca pointed out that she follows advertising rules, such as using disclaimers and avoiding the use of her children in betting content.
She added, “If the solution is to prohibit everything, then prohibit it,” referencing ongoing debates around banning gambling ads altogether.
In one of the most talked-about moments of the session, Senator Cleitinho Azevedo asked Fonseca for a selfie. He praised her pre-workout supplement, requested a video message for his wife and daughter, and urged her, as a fellow Christian, to stop endorsing gambling.
The moment quickly spread on social media and drew criticism from the inquiry’s president, Dr. Hiran, who cautioned against turning the hearings into a spectacle.
At the conclusion of her testimony, Fonseca agreed to submit copies of her contracts with betting firms to the Senate inquiry. The commission continues to review the influence of advertising in Brazil’s growing gambling market, especially in light of new laws introduced this year.