ANJL
Brazil betting market adjusts to regulation as football sponsorship boom slows
After a year under its new regulatory framework, Brazil’s betting market is moving beyond its early expansion phase, with operators recalibrating marketing strategies, regulators tightening oversight and new regulatory questions emerging.
Brazil’s regulated betting industry continues to evolve rapidly as the country moves through the first full year of its new legal framework for fixed-odds betting.
Recent developments across football sponsorships, advertising debates and regulatory oversight illustrate how the market is transitioning from its initial boom phase toward a more mature and consolidated ecosystem.
While the sector remains one of the most promising in the global iGaming landscape, operators are now facing higher regulatory costs, growing competition and increasing scrutiny from policymakers.
Together, these dynamics are beginning to reshape how betting companies operate — and how they invest — in Latin America’s largest market.
Football sponsorship boom begins to cool
Perhaps the most visible sign of the industry’s transformation can be seen in Brazilian football.
In 2025, betting companies dominated sponsorship deals in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Eighteen of the twenty clubs competing in the country’s top division featured betting operators as their main shirt sponsors, reflecting the aggressive marketing strategies that followed the opening of Brazil’s regulated betting market.
But the picture in the 2026 season is notably different.
Six clubs — Santos, Vasco da Gama, Bahia, Internacional, Grêmio and Coritiba — have recently ended or failed to renew sponsorship agreements with betting operators.
The changes occurred between the end of 2025 and the start of the new season.
Each case has its own explanation. Internacional and Grêmio terminated their contracts with Alfa Bet after repeated delays in payments.
Santos and Bahia mutually agreed to end partnerships with 7K Bet and Viva Sorte Bet, respectively. Meanwhile, Vasco and Coritiba simply allowed their deals with Betfair and Reals Bet to expire.
Among these teams, only Santos has secured a new agreement with another betting operator.
However, the new deal reportedly represents a reduction of roughly 30% in annual payments compared with the previous contract.
Analysts say these developments reflect the new economic realities of Brazil’s regulated betting environment.
Regulation increases operational costs
Brazil’s regulatory model for fixed-odds betting came fully into force on January 1, 2025, following the implementation of Law No. 14.790/2023.
Under the new framework, betting operators must establish a legal entity within Brazil and obtain a federal authorization to operate.
The license carries a fee of approximately R$30 million and is valid for five years.
In addition, companies are subject to a 12% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), alongside other taxes such as PIS, Cofins and municipal service taxes.
Players are also taxed under the new system. Net winnings exceeding the exemption threshold are subject to a 15% income tax.
According to gambling regulation specialist Gustavo Biglia, partner at the law firm Ambiel Bonilha Advogados, the regulatory shift has significantly altered the economic landscape of the industry.
Before the implementation of the new framework, operators faced fewer regulatory obligations, allowing them to allocate substantial budgets toward marketing and sponsorship deals.
“Previously there was no national authorization requirement nor a comprehensive tax regime covering the activity carried out in Brazil,” Biglia explained.
“That environment allowed companies to invest aggressively in marketing and sports sponsorships.”
Now, operators must operate within tighter margins.
Betting operators shift toward efficiency
Industry experts believe the Brazilian betting market is moving beyond its initial brand-building phase.
Eduardo Corch, a marketing professor at Insper and managing director of EMW Global for Latin America, says operators are increasingly focusing on efficiency rather than visibility.
“The objective is no longer simply to appear on football shirts,” Corch said.
“Companies are prioritizing marketing actions where the return on investment can be measured more clearly.”
Another important factor is competition.
The cost of acquiring customers in Brazil has increased significantly as more operators enter the market.
This intense competition is forcing companies to reconsider how they distribute their marketing budgets.
In many cases, funds are being redirected from high-visibility sponsorships toward digital marketing campaigns and data-driven acquisition strategies.
Pietro Cardia Lorenzoni, legal director of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), expects this trend to lead to a more concentrated market structure.
“The initial stage of the market saw large investments from many companies,” Lorenzoni explained. “But the industry is now proving itself and going through a maturation process. A reduction in spending is a natural outcome.”
Major sponsorship deals still exist
Despite the reduction in sponsorship deals across several clubs, betting companies continue to invest heavily in strategic partnerships.
One notable example is Corinthians’ recently renewed agreement with betting brand Esportes da Sorte.
The deal, extended until 2029, increased annual payments from around R$100 million to R$150 million and could reach R$200 million depending on the club’s sporting performance.
For operators, partnerships with major football clubs remain powerful brand-building tools.
Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil — the company behind the Esportes da Sorte brand — described the agreement as a key strategic move.
“It strengthens our connection with fans and expands opportunities to build the brand through experiences, innovation and more comprehensive activations,” he said.
Still, some analysts believe the initial sponsorship wave may have created inflated expectations within football clubs.
José Sarkis Arakelian, consultant and professor at FAAP, argues that certain deals were driven by an early market bubble.
“There was a bubble — and for some clubs there still is — regarding how much betting companies are paying,” he said.
Legal experts also warn that long-term sustainability in the sector will depend more on regulatory compliance than on marketing spending.
“In the short term money buys exposure,” said Leonardo Henrique Roscoe Bessa, consultant to the Brazilian Bar Association and partner at Betlaw. “In the long term only integrity guarantees permanence.”
Advertising restrictions under debate
Beyond sponsorship deals, advertising policy has become another major topic of debate in Brazil’s betting sector.
A bill currently under discussion in the Senate proposes banning advertising and sponsorship by betting companies altogether.
The proposal, known as bill 3563/2024, has sparked strong reactions across the industry.
Brazil’s betting regulator has expressed concerns about such a sweeping measure.
Daniele Correa Cardoso, deputy secretary at the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) within the Ministry of Finance, warned that banning advertising could have unintended consequences.
“How will users distinguish legal platforms from illegal ones?” Cardoso asked during a recent interview.
According to the regulator, the legal market is still in its early stages, and advertising plays an important role in helping consumers identify licensed operators.
“The market itself is not prohibited,” she noted. “What is prohibited is operating without authorization.”
Authorities fear that removing advertising visibility could push players toward unregulated platforms.
Crackdown on illegal operators continues
Since the launch of the regulated market in January 2025, Brazilian authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against illegal betting sites.
Through cooperation with the telecommunications regulator Anatel, more than 25,000 unauthorized betting websites have already been blocked.
However, regulators acknowledge that blocking websites alone is not sufficient.
Authorities are now focusing on financial channels used by illegal operators, working with payment institutions to identify and block transactions linked to unauthorized platforms.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the regulated ecosystem and protect consumers.
Responsible gambling becomes regulatory priority
Another key focus for the government is responsible gambling.
In a recent event in Salvador attended by around 1,000 consumer protection professionals, officials from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting presented new initiatives aimed at strengthening player protection mechanisms.
Brazilian law defines fixed-odds betting as a public service that may be operated by private companies under government authorization.
As a result, operators are required to implement safeguards addressing both financial and mental health risks associated with gambling.
One of the most significant developments has been the launch of a centralized self-exclusion system.
The platform allows players to voluntarily block their access to all licensed betting platforms through a single registration process.
Regulators have also introduced stricter rules governing advertising, particularly regarding vulnerable audiences and misleading claims.
Prediction markets emerge as new regulatory challenge
At the same time, regulators are monitoring new types of betting-adjacent products entering the Brazilian market.
The recent announcement that US-based prediction market operator Kalshi plans to enter Brazil through a partnership with brokerage XP International has drawn attention from regulators.
Prediction markets allow users to trade contracts based on the outcome of future events, ranging from political developments to sports results.
Because these products share characteristics with both financial derivatives and betting, their regulatory classification remains unclear in Brazil.
The SPA has clarified that no companies are currently authorized to operate prediction markets in the country.
Andre Santa Ritta, partner at the law firm Pinheiro Neto, believes the issue may become another complex regulatory challenge.
“In Brazil we still have a grey zone regarding prediction markets,” he said. “They are not clearly part of the fixed-odds betting framework, but they are not formally regulated as financial derivatives either.”
For licensed betting operators, the concern is that such products could attract users away from the regulated betting ecosystem.
A maturing market
Taken together, the latest developments suggest that Brazil’s betting industry is entering a new phase.
The early years of rapid expansion — characterized by heavy marketing spending and aggressive sponsorship strategies — are gradually giving way to a more structured and regulated environment.
Operators must now balance compliance requirements, rising customer acquisition costs and increasing political scrutiny.
At the same time, regulators continue to refine the framework in an effort to protect consumers while maintaining a competitive and sustainable legal market.
For international operators and investors, Brazil remains one of the most attractive opportunities in global iGaming.
But as the market matures, success will depend less on rapid expansion and more on strategic positioning within an increasingly regulated landscape.
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Anatel
Evolución de las apuestas en Brasil: regulación, política y cumplimiento
El mercado de apuestas brasileño atraviesa su período de transición más complejo desde la legalización inicial de las apuestas de cuota fija.
Esta semana, la industria fue testigo de una confluencia de victorias judiciales, consolidación institucional y una aguda escalada en la fricción política que amenaza con polarizar el próximo ciclo electoral de 2026.
A medida que la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas del Ministerio de Hacienda (SPA-MF) avanza para finalizar la arquitectura técnica del mercado, incluyendo rigurosos estándares de certificación y protocolos contra el lavado de dinero, el sector se encuentra en el corazón de un debate nacional sobre responsabilidad social, integridad financiera y los límites de la intervención estatal.

La ANJL asegura el acceso a la Apple Store para operadores licenciados
Una barrera significativa de entrada para el mercado digital regulado en Brasil ha sido desmantelada tras la presión judicial estratégica de la Asociación Nacional de Juegos y Loterías (ANJL).
Durante meses, los operadores autorizados enfrentaron obstáculos inconsistentes al intentar listar sus aplicaciones en la App Store de Apple, encontrándose a menudo compitiendo en desventaja frente a plataformas ilegales offshore que eludían los canales oficiales.
La decisión de la ANJL de llevar el asunto a los tribunales sirvió como catalizador para un cambio de política.
La asociación argumentó que restringir a los operadores autorizados de los canales oficiales de distribución digital era contraproducente para los objetivos mismos de la regulación brasileña.
Al permitir aplicaciones licenciadas, la industria proporciona un entorno seguro y transparente para los consumidores, facilitando que el público identifique plataformas legítimas que se adhieren a las leyes federales.
Si bien la solicitud inicial de una medida cautelar de urgencia no fue concedida en su totalidad, el reconocimiento judicial del marco regulatorio de Brasil forzó un realineamiento en las operaciones locales de Apple.
El tribunal reconoció que las directrices internas globales de Apple ya permiten aplicaciones de juegos y loterías en jurisdicciones donde son legales y están reguladas.
Este movimiento se ve como una gran victoria para la canalización del mercado, ya que las tiendas de aplicaciones oficiales ofrecen características de seguridad superiores, herramientas de verificación de edad y capacidades de monitoreo que están ausentes en el “mercado gris” o a través de descargas directas de archivos APK.
Para la ANJL, este es un paso fundamental para proteger al consumidor y garantizar que los altos costos de cumplimiento de los actores autorizados se vean recompensados con un acceso justo al ecosistema digital.
SINAPO y el impulso por la armonía regulatoria nacional
En Brasilia, el gobierno federal dio un paso decisivo hacia la unificación del fragmentado panorama regulatorio a través de la primera reunión ordinaria del Foro del Sistema Nacional de Apuestas (SINAPO).
Liderada por la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas (SPA-MF), la reunión incluyó a representantes de 15 estados y del Distrito Federal, destacando la complejidad de gestionar un mercado de dimensiones continentales donde los poderes estatales y federales a menudo se superponen.
El tema central del foro fue la necesidad de armonía técnica y normativa.
Brasil vive actualmente una “carrera regulatoria” donde diferentes estados están implementando sus propios modelos de lotería y apuestas, a veces con distintos grados de rigor.
El SINAPO busca garantizar que estas iniciativas estatales no se conviertan en refugios seguros para operaciones irregulares ni creen incertidumbre jurídica para los operadores que buscan trabajar en todo el país.
El gobierno federal presentó sus avances desde el inicio de 2024, enfatizando que la transparencia y la protección del apostador deben ser el denominador común en todas las jurisdicciones.
Integración tecnológica a través del sistema SIGAP
Un avance fundamental en las discusiones fue la propuesta de adopción del sistema SIGAP (Sistema de Gestión de Premios y Apuestas) por parte de las loterías estatales.
Desarrollado por el SERPRO, este sistema federal está diseñado para proporcionar un monitoreo en tiempo real de todas las transacciones, el comportamiento de los jugadores y las obligaciones fiscales.
Durante el foro, surgió el consenso de que los estados con menos infraestructura tecnológica podrían beneficiarse del uso del sistema federal, ya sea en su totalidad o como referencia para su propia personalización.
El gobierno federal expresó su disposición a compartir códigos fuente y proporcionar capacitación técnica a los reguladores estatales.
Este movimiento hacia un “entorno tecnológico compartido” es crucial para una aplicación efectiva de la ley.
Si las loterías estatales y el regulador federal operan con sistemas compatibles, se vuelve significativamente más difícil para los operadores ilegales explotar lagunas o para que las empresas licenciadas cometan errores en sus informes fiscales y de responsabilidad social.
El objetivo es establecer una base de datos unificada de sitios autorizados, evitando el bloqueo accidental de operaciones legales mientras se afilan las herramientas utilizadas para identificar las clandestinas.
La ofensiva contra el mercado ilegal: 41.000 sitios bloqueados
La lucha contra el mercado ilegal ha alcanzado una escala sin precedentes. La SPA-MF, en asociación con la Anatel, estableció un laboratorio especializado que utiliza herramientas automatizadas para escanear la web en busca de sitios de juego no autorizados.
Hasta la fecha, se han identificado más de 41.000 sitios ilegales que han sido objeto de órdenes de bloqueo.
Estas herramientas son capaces de capturar evidencia de canales encriptados como Telegram y plataformas de redes sociales populares como Instagram, donde ocurre gran parte de la promoción ilegal.
La automatización del laboratorio permite la rápida distribución de listas de bloqueo a los proveedores de servicios de internet (ISP). Sin embargo, el gobierno reconoce que los operadores ilegales son altamente resilientes, lanzando a menudo nuevos dominios espejo (como 93d.com seguido de 94d.com) tan pronto como se implementa un bloqueo.
Para contrarrestar esto, el gobierno está avanzando hacia un modelo de escaneo sistémico en tiempo real apoyado por asociaciones de la industria, que están ayudando a financiar los costos tecnológicos de estas soluciones de cumplimiento.
La estrategia es aumentar el costo operativo para los actores ilegales hasta un punto en el que el mercado brasileño ya no les resulte rentable.
La Ley Antifacción y la vigilancia financiera
Quizás el desarrollo regulatorio más significativo en 2026 es la implementación de la llamada “Ley Antifacción” (Ley 15.328/2026).
Esta legislación ha cambiado fundamentalmente el panorama de riesgos para las instituciones financieras y los proveedores de pago que operan en el espacio de las apuestas.
La ley fue diseñada para evitar que la industria del juego sea utilizada como vehículo para el crimen organizado y el lavado de dinero, otorgando a las autoridades el poder de ordenar el congelamiento inmediato de fondos en cuentas vinculadas a operaciones de apuestas no autorizadas.
La Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas está revisando actualmente sus ordenanzas existentes para alinearlas con este nuevo poder legal.
Una fecha límite crítica es el 25 de mayo de 2026, para cuando el Banco Central de Brasil debe publicar las normas específicas que dictarán cómo los bancos y las fintechs deben ejecutar estos bloqueos.
La expectativa es que esto cubra las lagunas operativas actuales donde se utilizan empresas “testaferro” o entidades fantasma para mover fondos ilegales incluso después de una intervención inicial.
El PIX bajo escrutinio y la responsabilidad tributaria solidaria
El sistema de pago instantáneo PIX, que se ha convertido en el método dominante para las transacciones de apuestas en Brasil, está bajo una intensa vigilancia.
Las autoridades han identificado un grupo central de aproximadamente 30 a 40 instituciones financieras (de las 950 que participan en el sistema) que están frecuentemente involucradas en facilitar pagos para sitios ilegales.
Estas instituciones han sido criticadas por no reportar actividades sospechosas al COAF (Consejo de Control de Actividades Financieras) y por permitir la rápida reapertura de cuentas bajo diferentes nombres corporativos.
Bajo la Ley Complementaria 224/2025, el gobierno ha introducido el concepto de responsabilidad tributaria solidaria.
Esto significa que si un proveedor de pago es notificado oficialmente de la ilegalidad de un sitio pero continúa procesando sus transacciones, el proveedor se vuelve legalmente responsable de los impuestos y multas que deba el operador.
Esta medida tiene como objetivo forzar una cultura de “autovigilancia” dentro del sector fintech, ya que el riesgo financiero de ignorar las listas de bloqueo del gobierno ahora supera las tarifas de procesamiento obtenidas del volumen ilegal.

Polarización política: la postura prohibicionista de Boulos
Mientras el Ministerio de Hacienda trabaja en la regulación técnica, se ha abierto una brecha política significativa dentro del gobierno federal.
El Ministro de la Secretaría General de la Presidencia, Guilherme Boulos, figura clave del ala política de la administración, se ha manifestado firmemente a favor de una prohibición total de las apuestas en Brasil.
Boulos sostiene que la industria es responsable de una transferencia masiva de riqueza desde familias de bajos ingresos hacia corporaciones offshore, y que se ha convertido en una herramienta principal para el lavado de dinero y la financiación de desinformación antigubernamental.
La retórica de Boulos sugiere que la regulación de 2024 ha fallado en abordar los daños sociales del juego.
Ha pedido el “fin de la fiesta de las apuestas”, afirmando que las plataformas están “comiendo” el tiempo libre de los trabajadores y destruyendo los presupuestos familiares.
Esta posición contrasta agudamente con los esfuerzos del Ministerio de Hacienda, liderado por Fernando Haddad, quien ha argumentado consistentemente que la prohibición solo empuja la actividad a la clandestinidad, donde no se pagan impuestos y no existen protecciones para el consumidor.
Esta división interna se ve cada vez más influenciada por las encuestas de año electoral.
Con la carrera presidencial de 2026 en el horizonte, la “demonización” de las apuestas se ha convertido en una narrativa política conveniente para aquellos que buscan apelar a votantes conservadores o de bajos ingresos preocupados por la deuda familiar.
El líder del gobierno en la Cámara, Paulo Pimenta, presentó recientemente un proyecto de ley para prohibir totalmente los casinos online, señalando además que la administración podría estar moviéndose hacia políticas más restrictivas a pesar del trabajo regulatorio en curso.

Maduración del mercado y la perspectiva de Flutter
El impacto económico de estos cambios regulatorios y políticos fue un tema central en la São Paulo Innovation Week.
Expertos de la industria debatieron el futuro del mercado bajo la premisa de si la “burbuja de las apuestas” finalmente está estallando.
Marcelo Damato, exasesor de la SPA, destacó el peligroso ciclo de patrocinios hiperinflados en el fútbol brasileño.
Señaló que el repentino aumento en el gasto de las marcas de apuestas elevó los costos de los clubes a niveles insostenibles, y ahora que el mercado se está consolidando, muchos clubes enfrentan “deudas explosivas” a medida que los contratos de patrocinio se cancelan o renegocian.
Alvaro Garcia, CMO de Flutter Brazil, ofreció una visión más optimista aunque realista. Garcia sostuvo que el mercado atraviesa actualmente un proceso de “normalización”.
Según Garcia, la fase inicial de adquisición, caracterizada por un gasto irracional y falta de enfoque en la sostenibilidad a largo plazo, está llegando a su fin.
Cree que la industria acabará convirtiéndose en una parte respetada del ecosistema deportivo, siempre que los operadores cambien su enfoque hacia la inversión racional y el marketing basado en el entretenimiento.
Garcia también abordó el debate sobre las restricciones publicitarias.
Argumentó que la mejor manera de proteger a los consumidores es a través de iniciativas de juego responsable basadas en datos, en lugar de prohibiciones totales.
Mediante el uso de datos bancarios y el análisis del comportamiento del jugador, las empresas reguladas pueden identificar hábitos de juego riesgosos a tiempo e intervenir.
La postura de Flutter es que un mercado saludable requiere un esfuerzo conjunto entre el Estado, las plataformas y las instituciones financieras para garantizar que la “larga cola” de operadores depredadores y no regulados sea reemplazada por un sector profesionalizado y sostenible.
Certificación y el futuro de la integridad deportiva
La integridad técnica sigue siendo una alta prioridad para la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas.
A través de las Ordenanzas 300 y 722, el gobierno ha establecido un riguroso proceso de certificación para los sistemas operativos utilizados por las plataformas de apuestas.
Laboratorios acreditados, que actúan como extensiones técnicas de la SPA, son ahora responsables de auditar algoritmos, sistemas de juego e integraciones de pago.
Estas certificaciones, basadas frecuentemente en el estándar internacional GLI 21, deben renovarse anualmente para garantizar el cumplimiento continuo.
En paralelo, la Policía Federal ha institucionalizado oficialmente un grupo dedicado a investigar la manipulación deportiva y los delitos relacionados con las apuestas.
Este grupo, establecido el 12 de mayo de 2026, tiene como objetivo centralizar todas las investigaciones relacionadas con el amaño de partidos, creando un canal de inteligencia unificado que conecte a las agencias de seguridad federales y estatales.
El objetivo es ir más allá de las medidas reactivas y establecer un sistema de vigilancia proactivo que pueda identificar patrones de apuestas sospechosos antes de que afecten la integridad del deporte brasileño.
Un mercado en la encrucijada
Mientras Brasil se prepara para la siguiente fase de su viaje regulatorio, la industria se encuentra en una encrucijada.
Por un lado, el Ministerio de Hacienda está construyendo un marco técnico de clase mundial centrado en el cumplimiento, la transparencia y el monitoreo estatal.
Por otro lado, una marea creciente de prohibicionismo político amenaza con deshacer años de progreso en favor de ganancias electorales a corto plazo.
Los próximos meses serán críticos para determinar si Brasil puede finalizar con éxito su transición hacia un mercado de apuestas regulado, responsable y económicamente significativo, o si retrocederá a un ciclo de prohibición y actividad clandestina.
El éxito del “experimento brasileño” en la regulación del juego depende ahora tanto de la excelencia técnica como de la estabilidad política.
The post Evolución de las apuestas en Brasil: regulación, política y cumplimiento appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
ANJL
Brazil’s betting evolution: regulation, politics, and compliance
The Brazilian betting market is navigating its most complex transition period since the initial legalization of fixed-odds betting.
This week, the industry witnessed a confluence of judicial victories, institutional consolidation, and a sharp escalation in political friction that threatens to polarize the upcoming 2026 electoral cycle.
As the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA-MF) moves to finalize the technical architecture of the market, including rigorous certification standards and anti-money laundering protocols, the sector finds itself at the heart of a national debate regarding social responsibility, financial integrity, and the limits of state intervention.

ANJL secures Apple Store access for licensed operators
A significant barrier to entry for the regulated digital market in Brazil has been dismantled following strategic judicial pressure from the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL).
For months, authorized operators faced inconsistent hurdles when trying to list their applications on Apple’s App Store, often finding themselves competing at a disadvantage against illegal offshore platforms that bypassed official channels.
The ANJL’s decision to take the matter to court served as a catalyst for a change in policy.
The association argued that restricting authorized operators from official digital distribution channels was counterproductive to the very goals of the Brazilian regulation.
By allowing licensed apps, the industry provides a safe and transparent environment for consumers, making it easier for the public to identify legitimate platforms that adhere to federal laws.
While the initial request for an emergency injunction was not granted in full, the judicial recognition of Brazil’s regulatory framework forced a realignment in Apple’s local operations.
The court acknowledged that Apple’s global internal guidelines already permit gambling and lottery applications in jurisdictions where they are legal and regulated.
This move is seen as a major victory for market canalization, as official app stores offer superior security features, age verification tools, and monitoring capabilities that are absent in the “grey market” or through direct APK downloads.
For the ANJL, this is a fundamental step in protecting the consumer and ensuring that the high costs of compliance for authorized players are met with fair access to the digital ecosystem.
SINAPO and the push for national regulatory harmony
In Brasilia, the federal government took a decisive step toward unifying the fragmented regulatory landscape through the first ordinary meeting of the Forum of the National Betting System (SINAPO).
Led by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA-MF), the meeting included representatives from 15 states and the Federal District, highlighting the complexity of managing a continental-sized market where state and federal powers often overlap.
The central theme of the forum was the need for technical and normative harmony.
Brazil is currently seeing a “regulatory race” where different states are implementing their own lottery and betting models, sometimes with varying degrees of rigor.
SINAPO aims to ensure that these state initiatives do not become safe havens for irregular operations or create legal uncertainty for operators looking to work nationwide.
The federal government presented its progress since the start of 2024, emphasizing that transparency and the protection of the bettor must be the common denominator across all jurisdictions.
Technological integration via the SIGAP system
A breakthrough in the discussions was the proposed adoption of the SIGAP system (Management System for Prizes and Betting) by state lotteries.
Developed by SERPRO, this federal system is designed to provide real-time monitoring of all transactions, player behavior, and tax obligations.
During the forum, a consensus emerged that states with less technological infrastructure could benefit from using the federal system, either in its entirety or as a reference for their own customization.
The federal government expressed its willingness to share source codes and provide technical training to state regulators.
This move toward a “shared technology stack” is crucial for effective enforcement.
If state lotteries and the federal regulator operate on compatible systems, it becomes significantly harder for illegal operators to exploit loopholes or for licensed companies to commit errors in their tax and social responsibility reporting.
The goal is to establish a unified database of authorized sites, preventing the accidental blocking of legal operations while sharpening the tools used to identify clandestine ones.
The offensive against the illegal market: 41,000 sites blocked
The fight against the illegal market has reached an unprecedented scale.
The SPA-MF, in partnership with Anatel, established a specialized laboratory that uses automated tools to scan the web for unauthorized gambling sites.
To date, over 41,000 illegal sites have been identified and subjected to blocking orders.
These tools are capable of capturing evidence from encrypted channels like Telegram and popular social media platforms like Instagram, where much of the illegal promotion occurs.
The laboratory’s automation allows for the rapid distribution of block lists to internet service providers (ISPs).
However, the government acknowledges that illegal operators are highly resilient, often launching new mirror domains (such as 93d.com followed by 94d.com) as soon as a block is implemented.
To counter this, the government is moving toward a systemic, real-time scanning model supported by industry associations, which are helping to fund the technological costs of these enforcement solutions.
The strategy is to increase the operational cost for illegal actors to a point where the Brazilian market is no longer profitable for them.
The Anti-Faction Law and financial surveillance
Perhaps the most significant regulatory development in 2026 is the implementation of the so-called “Anti-Faction Law” (Law 15.328/2026). This legislation has fundamentally changed the risk landscape for financial institutions and payment providers operating in the betting space.
The law was designed to prevent the gambling industry from being used as a vehicle for organized crime and money laundering, providing authorities with the power to order the immediate freeze of funds in accounts linked to unauthorized betting operations.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting is currently revising its existing ordinances to align them with this new legal power.
A critical deadline is May 25, 2026, by which the Central Bank of Brazil must publish the specific norms that will dictate how banks and fintechs must execute these blocks.
The expectation is that this will fill current operational gaps where “straw man” companies or shell entities are used to move illegal funds even after an initial intervention.
PIX under scrutiny and joint tax liability
The PIX instant payment system, which has become the dominant method for betting transactions in Brazil, is under intense surveillance.
Authorities have identified a core group of approximately 30 to 40 financial institutions out of the 950 participating in the system that are frequently involved in facilitating payments for illegal sites.
These institutions have been criticized for failing to report suspicious activities to COAF (Council for Control of Financial Activities) and for allowing the rapid reopening of accounts under different corporate names.
Under Complementary Law 224/2025, the government has introduced the concept of joint tax liability.
This means that if a payment provider is officially notified of a site’s illegality but continues to process its transactions, the provider becomes legally responsible for the taxes and fines owed by the operator.
This measure is intended to force a “self-policing” culture within the fintech sector, as the financial risk of ignoring government block lists now outweighs the processing fees earned from illegal volume.

Political polarization: the Boulos prohibitionist stance
While the Ministry of Finance works on technical regulation, a significant political rift has opened within the federal government.
Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Lula government, Guilherme Boulos, a key figure in the administration’s political wing, has come out strongly in favor of a total ban on betting in Brazil.
Boulos argues that the industry is responsible for a massive transfer of wealth from low-income families to offshore corporations and that it has become a primary tool for money laundering and the financing of anti-government misinformation.
Boulos’s rhetoric suggests that the 2024 regulation has failed to address the social harms of gambling.
He has called for the “end of the betting spree,” claiming that platforms are “eating” the free time of workers and destroying family budgets.
This position contrasts sharply with the efforts of the Ministry of Finance, led by Fernando Haddad, who has consistently argued that prohibition only drives the activity underground, where no taxes are paid and no consumer protections exist.
This internal government division is increasingly influenced by election-year polling. With the 2026 presidential race on the horizon, the “demonization” of bets has become a convenient political narrative for those looking to appeal to conservative or lower-income voters concerned about household debt.
The leader of the government in the House, Paulo Pimenta, recently introduced a bill to ban online casinos entirely, further signaling that the administration may be moving toward more restrictive policies despite the ongoing regulatory work.

Market maturation and the Flutter perspective
The economic impact of these regulatory and political shifts was a central topic at the São Paulo Innovation Week. Industry experts debated the future of the market under the theme of whether the “betting bubble” is finally bursting.
Marcelo Damato, a former SPA advisor, highlighted the dangerous cycle of hyper-inflated sponsorships in Brazilian football.
He noted that the sudden surge in betting brand spending drove up club costs to unsustainable levels, and now that the market is consolidating, many clubs are facing “exploding debts” as sponsorship deals are canceled or renegotiated.
Alvaro Garcia, CMO of Flutter Brazil, provided a more optimistic yet realistic view. Garcia argued that the market is currently undergoing a “normalization” process.
According to Garcia, the initial acquisition phase, characterized by irrational spending and a lack of focus on long-term sustainability, is coming to an end.
He believes that the industry will eventually become a respected part of the sports ecosystem, provided that operators shift their focus toward rational investment and entertainment-based marketing.
Garcia also addressed the ongoing debate over advertising restrictions.
He argued that the best way to protect consumers is through data-driven responsible gaming initiatives rather than total bans.
By using banking data and player behavior analysis, regulated companies can identify risky gambling habits early and intervene.
Flutter’s stance is that a healthy market requires a joint effort between the state, platforms, and financial institutions to ensure that the “long tail” of predatory, unregulated operators is replaced by a professionalized and sustainable sector.
Certification and the future of sports integrity
Technical integrity remains a high priority for the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting.
Through Ordinances 300 and 722, the government has established a rigorous certification process for the operating systems used by betting platforms.
Accredited laboratories, acting as technical extensions of the SPA, are now responsible for auditing algorithms, game systems, and payment integrations.
These certifications, often based on the international GLI Standard 21, must be renewed annually to ensure ongoing compliance.
In parallel, the Federal Police has officially institutionalized a dedicated group to investigate sports manipulation and betting-related crimes.
This group, established on May 12, 2026, aims to centralize all investigations related to match-fixing, creating a unified intelligence channel that bridges federal and state law enforcement agencies.
The goal is to move beyond reactive measures and establish a proactive surveillance system that can identify suspicious betting patterns before they impact the integrity of Brazilian sport.
A market at a crossroads
As Brazil prepares for the next phase of its regulatory journey, the industry stands at a crossroads. On one hand, the Ministry of Finance is building a world-class technical framework centered on compliance, transparency, and state monitoring.
On the other hand, a rising tide of political prohibitionism threatens to undo years of progress in favor of short-term electoral gains.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether Brazil can successfully finalize its transition to a regulated, responsible, and economically significant betting market, or if it will regress into a cycle of prohibition and clandestine activity.
The success of the “Brazilian experiment” in gambling regulation now depends as much on technical excellence as it does on political stability.
The post Brazil’s betting evolution: regulation, politics, and compliance appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
ANJL
ANJL debate sobre la lucha contra el mercado ilegal de apuestas en Brasilia
La Asociación Nacional de Juegos y Loterías (ANJL) celebró una reunión el miércoles 6 en el Hotel Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada, en Brasilia, centrada en la gobernanza y regulación del mercado de apuestas en Brasil.
El objetivo fue promover un diálogo sobre integridad, transparencia y el papel del sector en la prevención del lavado de dinero y la lucha contra la ilegalidad.
El panel estuvo dirigido por la abogada de la ANJL, Giovanna Dias, y el director ejecutivo de EtherCity, Rodrigo Arrigoni.

Durante la presentación, Giovanna ofreció una introducción al panorama del mercado ilegal en el país y destacó una de las principales acciones de lucha impulsadas a través del acuerdo de cooperación técnica firmado entre la ANJL, la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas (SPA) del Ministerio de Hacienda y la Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (Anatel).
Posteriormente, Arrigoni presentó la plataforma de monitoreo continuo de sitios web ilegales desarrollada por EtherCity y explicó cómo funciona la tecnología para identificar y monitorear operaciones irregulares en el entorno digital.
Al finalizar el panel, el representante de la ANJL destacó que la iniciativa representa una medida concreta para hacer frente al mercado de apuestas ilegales y reforzó la importancia de la acción conjunta entre el sector privado y las autoridades públicas para garantizar una mayor seguridad, transparencia e integridad en el mercado brasileño regulado.
The post ANJL debate sobre la lucha contra el mercado ilegal de apuestas en Brasilia appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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