9 Lions

About 9 Lions

Grasso claimed he was unaware of the donations before being approached by Patch. He added that his campaign had reported them to the Board of Elections and would be returning them.

It was not the first time Grasso had returned campaign money from Rovito.

The restaurateur donated $5,000 to Grasso’s unsuccessful 2018 campaign for Illinois attorney general in November 2017, but Grasso returned the money the following month after a TV station questioned the contribution, according to Patch.

What is 9 Lions?

Brazil Finance Minister Dario Durigan stated the country does not depend on betting revenue to balance public accounts.

He said the regulation was well established and not with the intention of raising revenue.

“Tax collection is part of the economic game and all sectors contribute,” Durigan said. “The same happens with betting.”

About 9 Lions

Since joining the Ministry of Finance in 2024, he has been directly involved in implementing Brazil’s betting regulatory framework. His work has focused particularly on monitoring authorised operators, combatting the illegal market and strengthening controls to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as coordinating enforcement actions with other government agencies and private sector stakeholders.

“Fabio’s appointment brings an important South American perspective to the IAGR board of trustees at a time when regulators worldwide are facing similar transnational challenges,” said IAGR President Ben Haden.

“Brazil has undergone an ambitious regulatory transformation in an extraordinarily short period, and his experience at the heart of this process will provide valuable insights to the regulators within our global community.”