Published in Poder360, this opinion article by Leo Baptista, founder of Pay4fun,  explores why Pix has become one of the most strategic tools in combating Brazil’s illegal betting market and why financial tracking may be more effective than simply blocking websites.

There is currently a recurring question whenever we talk about the betting market in Brazil: why does the illegal sector continue to operate even after regulation?

The answer is simple and, at the same time, uncomfortable: because we still have not tackled the problem in the most effective way.

For a long time, efforts to combat illegal betting focused on blocking websites.

It is an important measure, but an insufficient one.

The dynamic is familiar: one domain is blocked today, another appears tomorrow with slight variations.

It is an almost endless task, often described by the industry itself as “a losing battle.”

If we truly want to be effective, we need to change the approach.

The path is different: follow the money, and this is precisely where Brazil has an enormous competitive advantage: Pix.

Today, Pix is the only payment method accepted in Brazil’s betting market.

For the first time, this gives authorities an instrument capable not only of tracking, but mainly interrupting, the financial flow that sustains these operations.

When you cut the payment flow, you cut the business itself.

This movement has already begun.

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) now has stronger enforcement tools against institutions operating illegally.

ines can reach extremely significant amounts. At the same time, the Central Bank has substantially increased requirements for payment institutions.

This second point is fundamental.

In recent years, Brazil witnessed a proliferation of smaller institutions, often with weak control structures.

With stricter requirements related to capital, compliance, and anti-money laundering measures, many of these operations have left the market.

In practice, this has already reduced space for illegal activity. But it is still not enough.

The irregular market continues to represent a significant share of the sector: illegal betting currently accounts for between 41% and 51% of Brazil’s betting market, according to research conducted by Instituto Locomotiva and LCA Consultoria Econômica.

In other words, we are talking about an enormous volume of resources that fail to generate taxes, jobs, and consumer protection, losses that could reach up to R$40 billion per year in tax revenue, according to the same industry estimates.

This leads to another important point: it makes little sense to discuss higher tax burdens or additional restrictions for companies operating within the regulated market while such a large portion continues operating outside the law.

If pressure increases on regulated operators, the effect is direct: operators, and often users themselves,  are pushed toward the illegal market.

The most efficient path to increasing tax revenue is not raising taxes.

It is bringing illegal activity into the legal market. If that happens, the regulated sector could practically double in size, and tax collection would grow accordingly.

That is why the focus must be clear: enforcement.

Supervision of payment methods, providers, and operators on both sides of the market is essential.

There is no longer room for companies to remain “on the fence,” simultaneously serving both regulated and illegal operations.

Another area that needs advancement is regulatory integration.

The Central Bank and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting must work increasingly closely together. Combating illegal activity depends directly on this coordination.

Brazil has built a solid regulatory model for betting in a relatively short period of time.

The market is functioning, generating revenue, jobs, and user protection. Now, the country is entering a new phase: consolidation.

At this stage, there should be no doubt about where efforts must be concentrated.

The fight against the illegal market will not happen on the surface by simply taking down websites. It will happen through financial flows. Pix gives us that possibility.

Perhaps it is the most powerful tool we currently have. The question is not whether it can help. The real question is how willing we are to use it effectively.

Leonardo Baptista

Leonardo is the CEO & co-founder of Pay4Fun, a Brazilian payment institution recognized for its technology, security, and anti-money laundering prevention in Brazil’s regulated betting market.

With more than 20 years of experience in the gaming and IT sectors, he created Brazil’s first online bingo platform in 2004. In 2022, he was named one of the 10 most inspiring CEOs by CIO Business Review.

As a testament to the studio’s commitment to pushing casino entertainment forward, its hit title is up for a major accolade at the upcoming regional ceremony.

ELA Games is pleased to announce that its popular release, Joker Winpot, has been shortlisted for the ‘Game of the Year’ category at the 2026 SBC Awards Americas. This nomination marks an important step forward for the studio, proving that players are actively seeking the kind of distinct, interactive experiences the team loves to build.

A consistent performer in the studio’s portfolio, Joker Winpot blends a dark, character-driven aesthetic with an accessible 1×1 grid format. The main draw of the game is its proprietary Winpot mechanic, a progression-based feature that places decision-making directly into the hands of the player.

As rewards accumulate within the Winpot, players face the tension of either cashing out their current winnings or continuing to spin for larger payouts. This unique approach transforms a conventional slot format into a choice-based experience, earning widespread praise from players and fueling the title’s commercial success.

The winners will be revealed during the official SBC Awards Americas ceremony on June 10, 2026. This year, the event will take place at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing together approximately 600 industry professionals.

Set alongside the larger SBC Summit Americas running from June 9 – June 11, the evening will serve as a central gathering for the industry with opportunities to network and celebrate all the advancements of the past year.

BETBY, the leading Tier 1 sportsbook provider, has announced the launch of its comprehensive World Cup offering, led by one of the most distinctive advantages currently available to operators: odds on the entire World Cup bracket already available, before the official draw takes place.

Released exactly one month before the opening match, BETBY’s World Cup package gives operators a crucial head start, enabling them to activate campaigns and capture player interest well ahead of kickoff.

The offering also provides operators with an additional marketing tool to drive engagement and maximise player interaction in the lead-up to the tournament.

By providing a fully pre-priced tournament structure across all potential matchups, BETBY allows operators to offer betting markets from the group stage through to the final from day one.

This early availability extends the betting lifecycle significantly, giving players the opportunity to engage with the full tournament narrative in advance and driving sustained activity throughout the build-up to kickoff.

To further enhance engagement during the tournament, BETBY is introducing microbetting for the World Cup, enabling wagers on events occurring within one-minute intervals throughout each match. With at least 90 intervals per game, players can bet on outcomes such as throw-ins, fouls, corners, offsides, goals, and goal kicks.

This real-time, high-frequency betting format transforms the viewing experience into a continuous stream of opportunities, keeping users actively engaged from kickoff to the final whistle while increasing interaction levels, boosting ARPU, and strengthening retention.

Complementing this is BETBY’s eWorld Cup, an esports experience that replicates all tournament matches in a short-format, high-frequency environment.

With matches lasting just a few minutes, the e-sim ensures continuous football action, helping operators fill off-peak gaps and overcome time zone challenges while maintaining consistent user engagement.

The product is fully customizable, allowing operators to tailor visuals, teams, match configurations, and margins to align with their brand and commercial strategy.

BETBY’s World Cup offering is further supported by a dedicated tournament hub, designed to centralize all content, data, and betting opportunities within a single interface.

Users can explore group stages and full bracket progression, access event pages, view promotions and line banners, watch video content, and analyze detailed statistics, creating a more immersive and informed betting experience.

The package includes boosted odds across all World Cup events, daily featured offers, and a wide selection of prebuilt “hot” combos with enhanced pricing, giving operators the flexibility to engage a broad player base, from high-value users to casual bettors.

Operators also benefit from one of the most extensive market coverages in the industry, spanning main markets, outrights, props, and special bets, supported by a trading team ready to accommodate bespoke requests.

By combining early market availability, real-time engagement tools, continuous betting opportunities, and deep trading flexibility, BETBY delivers a complete solution designed to maximize operator performance throughout the World Cup.

“As the biggest sports event worldwide, the World Cup is as much about preparation as it is about execution,” said Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY.

“By being the first B2B sportsbook provider to make the full tournament bracket available ahead of the draw, we’re giving operators a clear advantage: the ability to start engaging players earlier and build momentum well before kickoff.

At the same time, other features like microbetting and our eWorld Cup ensure that engagement stays high throughout every stage of the competition.

We’re delivering a complete content portfolio that allows our partners to maximize both player activity and revenue across the entire World Cup cycle.”

BETBY

BETBY is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence. BETBY’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe.

From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, BETBY is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.

For more information visit betby.com