Neteller, Skrill processors cut off Brazil’s online gamblers

Brazil’s online gamblers are facing a crisis after payment processors Neteller and Skrill announced they would no longer support Brazilians making deposits to gambling services.

On Wednesday, Brazilian gamblers reported receiving email notices from Neteller informing them that the company “will no longer process deposits by members in Brazil to gambling merchants” effective February 21. Skrill customers reported receiving a similarly worded message.

Customers will have until February 28 to withdraw funds from online gambling sites to their Neteller/Skrill accounts. The companies apologized for the inconvenience and said customers’ accounts will otherwise be unaffected.

It’s unclear what type of pressure Brazilian law enforcement may have put on Neteller and Skrill, which are both owned by Paysafe Group (formerly Optimal Payments). Paysafe has steadily reduced its online gambling relationships in recent years as governments attempt to enforce nanny-state restrictions on how citizens can spend their money.