Pernambuco civil police are investigating singer Gusttavo Lima as a possible participant in an illegal gambling scheme, as part of Operation Integration. This operation targets a total of 53 people, including entrepreneurs and influencers such as Deolane Bezerra.
One of the main targets of the investigation is the Vai de Bet company, a betting platform that was a sponsor of Corinthians and of which Gusttavo Lima would have acquired a 25% share in July 2024.
However, the police suspect that the singer was already acting as a hidden owner of the company before that date. According to information released by TV Globo’s Fantástico program, the investigation has uncovered several financial transactions and suspicious links between the singer and the company, suggesting that Gusttavo Lima may have been involved in the illegal operation before formalizing his partnership.
The company Vai de Bet, sponsor of Corinthians in 2023, has become the target of the authorities after a series of suspicious financial transactions. A club advisor told the police that the Corinthians president had spoken to Gusttavo Lima, referring to him as the owner of Vai de Bet when signing the sponsorship contract.
According to the investigations, the singer’s concert company, Balada Eventos, would also be involved, as invoices were found and 150,000 reals in cash seized. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that Gusttavo Lima paid more than R$8 million for the use of his image and voice in campaigns on the betting platform.
These suspicions have raised concerns about the singer’s involvement in fraudulent financial transactions. One of the most important clues in the investigation concerns the sale of planes linked to the singer. Gusttavo Lima allegedly sold an aircraft to Sports Entretenimento and, subsequently, the same aircraft was negotiated with JMJ Participações, without there being any clear documents on repairs or modifications to the aircraft. These deals have attracted the attention of the authorities, who suspect possible links between the airline transactions and the illegal gambling system.
The defense of Gustavo Lima and the conduct of the case
Gusttavo Lima’s lawyers have spoken publicly, denying any involvement of the singer in illegal activities. The defense claims that the artist only signed legal commercial contracts and that the investigation is distorting the facts. Despite the firm stance of denial, the investigation into Operation Integration continues to advance. To date, no formal complaint against Gusttavo Lima has yet been confirmed. The Public Prosecutor is now analyzing the elements raised by the police to decide whether the singer will be prosecuted or not.
Despite the accusations and the climate of suspicion, Gusttavo Lima maintains his schedule of shows and public commitments. Recently, the singer released a statement at one of his shows, saying, “Be honest,” in reference to the controversial investigation. Operation Integration continues to thoroughly investigate the 53 suspects and their links to the gaming system, and the police are still looking for new evidence that could corroborate the involvement of all the suspects.
The outcome of the case is still uncertain and many Gusttavo Lima fans are eagerly awaiting further clarification on the singer’s possible connection with Vai de Bet. At the same time, the betting platform is under increasing scrutiny, especially after its relationship with Corinthians came to light, raising questions about the legality of its operations in Brazil.
Djenifer Henz – Supervised by Marcelo de Assis
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
