WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao's gambling industry has come under intense scrutiny following a large-scale investigation into money laundering operations in Brazil. The investigation, based on Brazilian sources, is part of "Operation Integration" led by civil police in Pernambuco. This probe targets illegal gambling activities and has resulted in the freezing of more than two billion Brazilian reais (over 660 million guilders). Several Brazilian companies and individuals, including high-profile celebrities, are suspected of involvement. 

Among those implicated are Brazilian singer Gusttavo Lima and lawyer-influencer Deolane Bezerra. A judge, Andréa Calado da Cruz, issued arrest warrants for both individuals on allegations of laundering money through gambling companies based in Curaçao. Although Lima and Bezerra remain free, the investigation continues to focus on their ties to Curaçao-registered firms, including Esportes da Sorte and Vai de Bet, both suspected of facilitating money laundering. 

The investigation began in 2022 when police seized a large sum of cash, 180,000 Brazilian reais, in the city of Recife. The money was linked to illegal gambling operations and led authorities to Darwin Henrique da Silva, a well-known bookmaker in the region. His son, Darwin Filho, owns the betting platform Esportes da Sorte, which operates legally and is headquartered in Curaçao. 

Another company implicated in the laundering accusations, Vai de Bet, is part of Betpix N.V., also registered in Curaçao. In July 2023, Gusttavo Lima acquired a 25% stake in Vai de Bet. The judge raised serious concerns about the integrity of this transaction. The gambling firm also had a lucrative sponsorship deal with Brazilian football club Corinthians, but the contract was terminated in July due to ongoing controversies and payment issues stemming from the investigation. 

While online gambling has been legal in Brazil since 2018, many gambling companies serving the Brazilian market are based abroad, including in Curaçao. Starting in January 2025, a new law will take effect in Brazil aimed at regulating the sector more strictly, ensuring greater transparency and security within the gambling industry. 

Steven Neuman, a Curaçaoan fraud expert involved in the investigation, noted that numerous criminal organizations that previously operated illegal gambling activities are now attempting to legalize their operations. Neuman believes that Brazil’s new law will give the government better oversight of gambling companies and their payment methods, helping to combat money laundering more effectively. 

The ongoing investigation has cast a shadow over Curaçao’s gambling industry, raising concerns about the island’s role in global money laundering schemes.