The Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories in Brazil has taken the unusual step of issuing a public summons to an online betting platform, MCR 73 Investimento LTDA, over allegations of unpaid winnings totaling BR169,000 (approximately US$31,000).
The legal action was initiated by a player who claims the operator blocked them from withdrawing their prize money.
According to the plaintiff’s claim, the substantial sum was accumulated while playing Fortune Tiger, a highly popular online slot game in Brazil. After winning, the user alleges they were prevented from accessing their funds.
The situation escalated when the player attempted to contact the company to resolve the issue but was unsuccessful, still ending up with unpaid winnings.
Following these failed attempts, the victim turned to the Brazilian legal system.
However, the court also encountered significant difficulties, as it was unable to locate any legal representative, contact information, or physical address associated with the operator, MCR 73 Investimento LTDA.
This inability to serve notice through conventional means prompted the presiding judge to issue an official summons via the public record.
The public notice gives the elusive operator a period of 20 business days to respond to the allegations. The notice carries a significant legal weight, stating that if the company fails to present a defense within the specified timeframe, the plaintiff’s claims may be presumed to be true under Brazilian civil procedure law.
This case highlights the potential risks for players on unregulated or difficult-to-trace platforms and comes as Brazil continues to formalize its national gambling regulations.
It also follows recent legal cases in the country where several social media influencers were acquitted after promoting the same Fortune Tiger game.
