Procon-SP notificará casas de apostas não autorizadas sobre valores retidos
Procon-SP. (Imagem: Governo de São Paulo / Pablo Jacob)

Procon-SP, the body responsible for consumer protection in São Paulo, will notify all companies linked to the gaming and betting supply chain. This includes bookmakers and payment companies.

The initiative aims to understand what measures are being implemented to compensate consumers who had money withheld after the recent operating ban imposed by the Ministry of Treasury.

A list of more than 2,000 domains began to be blocked last Friday (11), even containing affiliate and media sector sites. According to the government itself, so far nothing has been thought of to solve this problem.

Responsibility of payment platforms and companies

Around 35 consumers have already registered complaints with Procon-SP, reporting the non-return of amounts they had deposited to use on gaming platforms.

The agency advises all those affected to formalize a complaint in their respective cities. This action is crucial for authorities to carry out an adequate diagnosis and decide what the next steps will be.

Procon-SP states that, even with the interruption of activities by official order, the platforms remain responsible for customer service. Therefore, they must refund the credits of active users during the suspension.

Furthermore, payment method companies may also be held responsible for returns, depending on the analysis of each situation.

In addition to this immediate issue, Procon-SP plans to forward a letter to the Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU) and the Ministry of Treasury, specifically the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets.

The measure aims to express the agency’s concern about the possibility of platforms creating new domains to continue operating clandestinely.

Procon-SP will guarantee consumer rights

Luiz Orsatti Filho, executive director of Procon-SP, highlights the importance of consumer protection. He emphasizes that the defense of consumer rights is guaranteed by Federal Law No. 8,078/90, the Consumer Protection Code.

“This includes the joint and objective responsibilities of all suppliers who profit or gain advantages through business activity”, he explained.

It is essential that all consumers affected by this situation seek their rights and find out how to proceed. Procon-SP’s actions are essential for defending users’ interests.