Since December 2018, when then-President Michel Temer sanctioned Law 13,756/2018, fixed-odds betting has been legal in Brazil . However, many people are still afraid of falling for online betting scams.

This fear can be overcome by choosing the most reliable sites on the market. By knowing how to make this selection, the bettor can be sure that there will be no losses in the transactions and that he will receive all his winnings.

Below, we detail the most common online betting scams and explain which are the most reliable bookmakers.

What are the main scams in sports betting?

Although the main betting sites are trustworthy, there are betting scams that have become very popular on the internet.

Some of them involve the promise of fixed income from bets , even though this is a high-risk market, or psychological manipulations, with images of large cash returns, luxury cars and trips to paradisiacal destinations.

Learn about the main sports betting scams below and be ready to identify them.

1. Sale of credit

One of the main scams involves the promise of selling betting credits at cheaper prices.

In it, the scammer offers credit for an attractive amount, so that the victim makes a bank transfer.

When the amount is transferred, the criminal does not forward the promised credits, blocks the contacts and pockets the money, without any possibility of returning it.

2. Bankroll leverage

Bankroll leverage involves the promise of increasing a bettor’s available amount in a short period of time.

The scam consists of investing money in bets that will supposedly multiply your return several times in the short term.

However, this scenario is quite unlikely in the betting market and usually results in huge losses for the bettor.

3. Guaranteed bets or fixed matches

Known as “fixed matches”, this scam promises guaranteed bets . In other words, it is as if the result of a game were manipulated or a match were bought.

For this to happen, an athlete involved in the game, or even a referee, receives money, ensuring that a bet is correct.

These predictions may involve situations such as yellow or red cards in a football match, the awarding of a penalty or a certain number of corners.

Unfortunately, this scenario has already been realized in betting schemes in Brazilian football, as we will detail later, and in other sports leagues around the world.

The most important thing here is to always keep in mind that match-fixing is a crime and can lead to severe penalties. In the case of athletes, there are already examples of bans from sports.

How do betting schemes work?

Sports betting schemes often involve the participation of recruiters and athletes.

While the recruiters pay significant amounts in the hope of having large returns on their bets, the athletes receive the money to commit illegal acts.

In Brazil, the most notable case related to a betting scheme became known thanks to Operation Maximum Penalty , launched by the Public Ministry of Goiás.

The investigation by the MP-GO showed that football players, including those from the Brazilian Championship Series A, were lured by those accused of leading the betting schemes.

These athletes received money to force yellow or red cards and even commit penalties in the matches in which they played.

Before entering the field, they received part of the agreed amount as a deposit. After fulfilling the agreement, the rest was paid by the bettors.

As a result of these investigations, on September 11, 2023, FIFA confirmed the banning of three Brazilian players from football.

Other athletes, who had already been suspended by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), had their sentences confirmed by the highest football authority for all leagues on the planet.

Schemes like this can be worrying for regular gamblers, but in reality, these people are not being harmed.

The main victims end up being the websites themselves, which must pay large amounts in bets that were already agreed with the athletes.

Still, there are some steps you can take to prevent yourself from getting scammed when betting online .

How to avoid internet scams?

To avoid online betting scams, bettors can take several steps before depositing money at bookmakers. Below, we detail each of these points to help you protect yourself when betting online.

1. Reputation

One of the main measures to avoid falling for scams is to assess the credibility of the bookmaker.

It is important to always bet only on sites with a high reputation both in Brazil and in other countries.

Look for betting houses that attract a lot of users and read recommendations on sites like Reclame Aqui to protect yourself.

2. Licenses

Betting licenses are a way for these companies to show their credibility.

Therefore, before making a deposit, check the betting site’s licenses and give preference to sites that operate in countries such as:

• Malta
• UK
• Denmark
• Italy

3. Data security

When it comes to online transactions, it is essential that browsing takes place in secure environments . To avoid the breach of stolen personal data, such as banking information, look for betting sites that have data encryption.

If you want to further increase the security of your data, use a VPN, especially if you are using a public internet connection.

This ensures that no one can monitor your activity or have access to your information while you are betting.

4. Responsible Gaming Policies

Online gambling involves a great deal of risk for players and can become addictive. Among the regulations followed by major bookmakers are responsible gaming policies .

They help identify signs that a bettor is beginning to experience a gambling compulsion, which can cause serious financial losses. In these cases, the sites themselves block these users’ bets.

Is it safe to bet online?

The main online bookmakers follow several regulations to make transactions more reliable and avoid losses for their users.

After all, the loss of credibility could lead to a reduction in the number of customers for these sites and, consequently, several negative impacts.

Knowing this, when choosing the most reliable betting sites, you can be sure that your online predictions will not cause any problems.

Which are the safest betting houses?

The most important method to prevent online scams is to choose a safe betting site. Therefore, we have listed three of the most reliable sites on the market:

1. Betano

Better known in the Brazilian market after sponsoring Atlético Mineiro and Fluminense, Betano began its operations in 2013, in Greece.

The bookmaker is licensed in Malta and currently has more than 700 employees and more than 300 thousand registered users on its website.

In 2022, Betano received the “Consumer Choice” award in the Sports Betting category, in a survey carried out by Consumer Choice.

Among the iGaming industry awards from the European Game Congress (EGC) and Sports Betting Community (SBC), the bookmaker has already been voted the best operator of the year and the operator with the highest growth.

2. Bet365

In addition to having a reputation built over more than 20 years of operation in the betting market, Bet365 has licenses in the United Kingdom and Malta, two of the strictest betting commissions on the planet.

The house is also regulated in Spain, with a license granted by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, another highly relevant regulatory body.

Among its responsible gaming policies, Bet365 allows users to set their own betting and deposit limits.

3. Novibet

Novibet is one of the most trusted online sportsbooks on the market. Although it is a Greek betting site owned by Logflex MT Limited, it also has licenses to operate in Malta (MGA/CRP/186/2010) and Ireland .

Another factor of reliability for Novibet is being accredited by eCogra, an international association that defines security standards for betting sites.

In Brazil, the brand became better known with the announcement of the biggest sponsorship in the history of Fortaleza Futebol Clube.