Brazil Election Loser Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to US Amid Gambling Probe

Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami Wednesday (Oct. 28) just days after losing the country’s presidential election amid an investigation into money laundering. His departure defied a court order in Brazil banning him from traveling abroad.

Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, is under scrutiny for his relationship with lawyer Willer Tomaz, who was last year Brazil’s biggest online gambler, according to the country’s Finance Ministry.

Tomaz placed R$6.6 billion ($1.3 billion) in cumulative wagers at online casino and sportsbook Blaze.com across 2025 and 2026, according to court documents.

Authorities are investigating possible financial irregularities, as well as an alleged undisclosed business relationship involving the two men.  

The senator traveled with his wife and two daughters overland into Argentina on Tuesday (Oct. 27), according to Argentine immigration authorities. They boarded a private jet at Puerto Iguazú, stopped in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport Wednesday morning.

Bolsonaro left the airport under police escort without addressing reporters, The Guardian reported.

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports on Monday (Oct. 26), a day after his electoral defeat. Justice Alexandre de Moraes also prohibited him from leaving Brazil and contacting Tomaz, after federal police raised concerns that he might flee.

A senior US State Department official said Bolsonaro and his family would be admitted to the United States. President Donald Trump also expressed support for their arrival.

Bolsonaro is expected to seek political asylum in the US, according to allies quoted by Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles.

Alleged Hidden Stake in Betting Business

Brazilian federal police are investigating whether Bolsonaro secretly held an interest in BestBet, an online betting site previously licensed by Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, Loterj.

An investigation published last week by Brazilian magazine piauí identified links between BestBet’s owner, Rede Loto, and two Portuguese holding companies associated with Tomaz.

According to documents described by piauí and Folha de S.Paulo, Bolsonaro was registered as a “master user” on a Santander bank account belonging to Alcazar Holdings, one of those companies.

Investigators are examining whether the account access and other connections indicate undisclosed ownership of the gambling business.

Bolsonaro has denied holding a joint account with Tomaz or having an illicit business relationship. Tomaz has disputed the reporting and maintains his companies operate lawfully.

Tomaz says the funds he gambled on Blaze.com came from legitimate sources and were reported to tax authorities.

Election Defeat

Bolsonaro faces a separate investigation concerning alleged financial irregularities related to a film about his father. He denies those allegations too.

His election defeat to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hands the latter his fourth presidential term.

Bolsonaro initially refused to recognise the result and threatened to seek its annulment, but subsequently abandoned that demand after his party acknowledged Lula’s victory, instead threatening to challenge Lula’s victory over alleged campaign abuses.

Lula condemned his opponent’s flight as “shameful.”