Latest News
AGHANIM RESEARCH GAUGES DMA AWARENESS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION
Aghanim, a mobile gaming fintech company founded by the former CEO and CTO of Xsolla, today reveals fascinating new research among mobile game developers relating to the recently launched Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The research is based on interviews with 300 mobile game developers across the US, UK and Germany in the weeks leading up to the introduction of the Act. The new European Union legislation aims to ensure a higher degree of fairness and competition in European digital markets and designates a number of major tech corporations including Apple and Alphabet (Google) as “gatekeepers”.
The key findings of the study shows:
- 62% of mobile game developers are aware of the Digital Markets Act
- 82% have at least some understanding of how it will impact their business. Almost a fifth (19%) feel they have a complete understanding of the DMA’s impact
- 31% of mobile game developers feel they will have more freedom under the DMA, though just 9% are confident they’ll be able to keep more of their revenue
- Only 13% have ruled out making changes to their payment processes. A third (33%) have begun implementing them
- Awareness of the DMA is highest in Germany (70%), followed by the UK (68%). Less than half (47%) of US developers are aware of the legislation. While the DMA is a European framework, it applies to US developers operating in the EU
Constantin Andry, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, commented: “This data shows that there’s an appetite for change among game developers. Yes, the platform holders instigated the $92 billion mobile games industry, but we need to be asking why game developers – the people who make the games – now only see about 10% of this. With direct-to-consumer distribution, there’s an opportunity to ensure a further $18 billion of annualized value remains within the video games industry, with game creators, which will help soften many ongoing issues including layoffs. Otherwise, the business of making mobile games could soon become unviable.”
Konstantin Golubitsky, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, added: “The opportunity for game developers is to create a web-based game hub for their titles which provides added value for their most engaged and valuable users, keeping them coming back regularly. Ultimately, players spend where they see the most value, and our goal is to help developers provide them with the greatest value at the lowest cost.”
A key promise of the Digital Markets Act is to provide fairer competition and greater choice to gamers and game studios. However, Apple’s latest business terms introduced a Core Technology Fee which, for many game developers, cancels out the potential benefits of third-party distribution. Despite the game developers being surveyed before the introduction of the Core Technology fee, just 40% said Apple is a positive force for the games industry. 39% were neutral, while 21% felt Apple was having a negative impact. Since the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in 2021, game developers have increasingly explored direct-to-consumer platforms such as browser stores to supplement on-platform monetization with lower-fee options.
An online survey was conducted on behalf of Aghanim by Atomik Research among 305 mobile game developers in the UK (101), Germany (103), and the USA (101). The research fieldwork took place between 18-22 February 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides by MRS code.
Event will bring together leaders and experts at a time of high visibility for the sector
With an expected 20% increase in attendance, BiS Brasília reaches its second edition in a scenario of strong prominence for the sports betting market in Brazil.
Regulatory advances and growing public interest have placed the sector at the center of strategic discussions, boosting the event’s relevance this year.
Held at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada, the gathering will bring together experts, executives, and authorities to discuss market trends, challenges, and opportunities, with a focus on innovation, integrity, and the sustainable development of the industry.
“The BiS Brasília arrives at a decisive moment for the Brazilian market, bringing together leaders to discuss the paths of regulation, innovation, and sustainable growth of iGaming and sports betting in the country.
It will be a strategic opportunity to promote qualified dialogue and strengthen an increasingly professional and transparent ecosystem,” explains Flávio Figueiredo, co-founder of BiS SiGMA.
Based in the federal capital—epicenter of Brazil’s main political and economic decisions—the event reinforces Brasília’s role as a convergence point for the different stakeholders involved in shaping the new regulatory landscape.
This edition is expected to consolidate itself as a milestone in the maturation of the debate on the legality of betting in Brazil.
About BiS Brasília
In its second edition, BiS Brasília is an event dedicated to the iGaming and betting ecosystem, promoting dialogue between the private sector, government, and society on the development of the regulated gaming, casino, and lottery market in Brazil.
The event brings together business leaders, authorities, and experts to discuss strategic topics such as Brazilian regulation, taxation, integrity, innovation, responsible gaming, compliance, AML / anti-money laundering, licensing, sports integrity, government relations, advertising, and CONAR.
BiS SiGMA South America is part of the event portfolio of SiGMA World Group, one of the leading global platforms for B2B business and event organization focused on the gaming and betting industry.
The post BiS Brasília projects growth and boosts betting debate in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Rafael Brunati y Celso Basílio, abogados de Silveiro Advogados especializados en mercados regulados, derecho corporativo y derecho de la competencia, analizan las recientes medidas adoptadas por el Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN) de Brasil y la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas (SPA/MF), así como su impacto en la industria del iGaming y las apuestas deportivas.
En este artículo, examinan cómo el nuevo marco regulatorio redefine los límites entre las apuestas, los instrumentos financieros y los modelos emergentes de mercados digitales, al tiempo que refuerza la Ley N.º 14.790/2023 como pilar central de la regulación del sector.
Por Rafael Brunati y Celso Basílio
El conjunto de medidas adoptadas recientemente por el Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN) y la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas del Ministerio de Hacienda (SPA/MF) representa un nuevo capítulo en la consolidación regulatoria del mercado brasileño de iGaming y apuestas deportivas.
Más que una respuesta puntual a los llamados mercados predictivos, las iniciativas señalan un intento más amplio de reorganizar los límites entre apuestas autorizadas, instrumentos financieros y actividades consideradas irregulares en el país.
La Resolución CMN N.º 5.298/2026 prohibió la oferta y negociación de derivados vinculados a apuestas, eventos deportivos, juegos en línea y temas políticos, electorales, culturales o de entretenimiento sin referencia económico-financiera.
En la misma línea, la Nota Técnica SPA/MF N.º 2.958/2026 encuadró las plataformas de mercados predictivos como explotación ilegal de apuestas de cuota fija, lo que derivó en el bloqueo de decenas de plataformas por parte de la Anatel.
El movimiento refuerza de manera clara la centralidad de la Ley N.º 14.790/2023 como marco regulatorio exclusivo para la explotación de apuestas de cuota fija en Brasil.
En la práctica, el gobierno ha comenzado a delimitar con mayor precisión quién puede operar en este mercado y bajo qué condiciones.
Las plataformas que buscaban posicionarse como mercados financieros, contratos de eventos o estructuras tecnológicas alternativas pasaron a ser tratadas materialmente como operadores de apuestas.
El mensaje regulatorio es directo: si el producto compite por el mismo público, utiliza una lógica económica similar a las apuestas y conlleva riesgo asociado a eventos futuros, tiende a quedar dentro del perímetro regulatorio de la SPA.
Desde la óptica regulatoria y de competencia, esto genera un efecto relevante para los operadores autorizados.
Las empresas que invirtieron en licencias, cumplimiento normativo, prevención de lavado de dinero, integridad deportiva, políticas de juego responsable y estructura regulatoria dejan de competir con plataformas que operaban al margen de estas exigencias mediante encuadres jurídicos alternativos. Se produce así un fortalecimiento indirecto del valor económico de la licencia regulatoria otorgada por la SPA.
Al mismo tiempo, este fortalecimiento viene acompañado de un aumento significativo de las obligaciones operativas y de cumplimiento.
Las recientes medidas también reabren un debate importante sobre los límites regulatorios de las llamadas betting exchanges y los modelos peer-to-peer.
La propia Nota Técnica SPA/MF N.º 2.958/2026 reconoce que la negociación entre apostadores y la existencia de precios dinámicos no desnaturalizan necesariamente la condición de apuesta de cuota fija. Esta interpretación es relevante porque acerca los mercados predictivos a las estructuras de bolsas de apuestas ya previstas en la Ley N.º 14.790/2023.
Este punto podría abrir espacio, en el futuro, para modelos regulados de betting exchange en Brasil, siempre que estén dentro del perímetro autorizado por la SPA.
Sin embargo, la regulación operativa de este formato aún no ha sido desarrollada por la autoridad, lo que mantiene un nivel importante de incertidumbre para los operadores interesados en innovación de producto.
Desde otra perspectiva, las medidas también tienden a generar una intensa judicialización. Existen debates relevantes sobre los límites de la competencia del CMN para restringir ciertos tipos de derivados, sobre la actuación interpretativa de la SPA respecto a los mercados predictivos y sobre el bloqueo de plataformas sin orden judicial.
Independientemente del desenlace de estas disputas, lo cierto es que el mercado brasileño de iGaming y apuestas deportivas entra en una nueva fase.
La lógica regulatoria deja de centrarse únicamente en la autorización formal para operar y pasa a incorporar de forma más intensa temas como integridad financiera, protección de usuarios vulnerables, gobernanza de datos, trazabilidad de pagos y supervisión operativa continua.
El sector continúa creciendo, pero ahora dentro de un entorno significativamente más sofisticado —y más exigente. Para los operadores autorizados, esto representa simultáneamente una barrera de entrada para competidores irregulares y un aumento relevante en los costos de cumplimiento. En un mercado cada vez más regulado, la diferencia competitiva tiende a depender menos de la capacidad de ofrecer apuestas y más de la capacidad de operar con seguridad regulatoria, integridad operativa y rápida adaptación a las nuevas exigencias del Estado.
Rafael Brunati, abogado en las áreas de Derecho Societario, Contratos, M&A y Private Equity, así como del sector bancario en Silveiro Advogados, es graduado en Derecho por la Universidad Presbiteriana Mackenzie, posee un LL.M en Derecho Societario por INSPER y es miembro de la Comisión de Derecho Bancario de la OAB/SP.
Celso Basílio, abogado en las áreas de Mercados Regulados, Telecomunicaciones, Contratos y Derecho de la Competencia en Silveiro Advogados, es máster en Derecho por la FGV Derecho SP, posee un LL.M en Derecho de los Contratos por INSPER y es graduado en Derecho por la Universidad Presbiteriana Mackenzie.
The post Nuevas reglas del CMN y SPA reorganizan el tablero del iGaming y las apuestas deportivas appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Rafael Brunati and Celso Basílio, lawyers at Silveiro Advogados specializing in regulated markets, corporate law, and competition law, analyze the recent measures adopted by Brazil’s National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) and their impact on the iGaming and sports betting industry.
In this article, they examine how the new regulatory framework reshapes the boundaries between betting, financial instruments, and emerging digital market models, while reinforcing Law No. 14,790/2023 as the central pillar of regulation in the sector.
ByRafael Brunati and Celso Basílio
The set of measures recently adopted by the National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF) marks a new chapter in the regulatory consolidation of Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market.
More than a targeted response to so-called predictive markets, these initiatives signal a broader effort to redefine the boundaries between authorized betting activities, financial instruments, and operations considered irregular in the country.
CMN Resolution No. 5,298/2026 prohibited the offering and trading of derivatives linked to betting, sports events, online games, and political, electoral, cultural, or entertainment themes without a financial-economic reference.
In the same direction, SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 classified predictive market platforms as illegal fixed-odds betting operations, leading to the blocking of dozens of platforms by Anatel.
The move clearly reinforces Law No. 14,790/2023 as the exclusive regulatory framework for fixed-odds betting in Brazil.
In practice, the government has begun to draw a sharper line around who can operate in this market and under what conditions.
Platforms that previously positioned themselves as financial markets, event-based contracts, or alternative technological structures are now being materially treated as betting operators.
The regulatory message is direct: if a product targets the same audience, uses similar economic logic to betting, and involves risk linked to future events, it is likely to fall within the SPA’s regulatory perimeter.
From a competitive and regulatory standpoint, this produces a meaningful effect for licensed operators. Companies that have invested in licensing, compliance, anti-money laundering controls, sports integrity, responsible gaming policies, and regulatory infrastructure are no longer competing with platforms operating outside these requirements under alternative legal interpretations.
This indirectly strengthens the economic value of the license granted by the SPA.
At the same time, this strengthening comes with a significant increase in operational and compliance obligations.
The recent measures also reopen an important discussion on the regulatory limits of so-called betting exchanges and peer-to-peer models.
SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 itself acknowledges that betting between users and the existence of dynamic pricing do not necessarily alter the nature of fixed-odds betting.
This interpretation is relevant because it brings predictive markets closer to exchange-style betting structures already contemplated under Law No. 14,790/2023.
This point could, in the future, open space for regulated betting exchange models in Brazil, provided they fall within the SPA’s authorized perimeter. However, operational rules for such formats have not yet been defined by the regulator, leaving a significant area of uncertainty for operators seeking product innovation.
From another perspective, these measures are also likely to generate substantial litigation.
There are important debates regarding the limits of the CMN’s authority to restrict certain types of derivatives, the SPA’s interpretative role regarding predictive markets, and even the blocking of platforms without judicial orders.
Regardless of the outcome of these disputes, the fact is that Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market is entering a new phase.
Regulatory logic is no longer focused solely on formal authorization to operate, but increasingly incorporates issues such as financial integrity, protection of vulnerable users, data governance, payment traceability, and continuous operational supervision.
The sector continues to grow, but now within a significantly more sophisticated—and more demanding—environment. For licensed operators, this simultaneously creates a barrier to entry for unregulated competitors and increases compliance costs.
In an increasingly regulated market, competitive advantage is likely to depend less on the ability to offer bets and more on the capacity to operate with regulatory security, operational integrity, and rapid adaptation to new state requirements.
Rafael Brunati is a lawyer specializing in Corporate Law, Contracts, M&A, Private Equity, and Banking Law at Silveiro Advogados.
He holds a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, an LL.M in Corporate Law from INSPER, and is a member of the Banking Law Commission of the São Paulo Chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).
Celso Basílio is a lawyer specializing in Regulated Markets, Telecommunications, Contracts, and Competition Law at Silveiro Advogados.
He holds a Master’s degree in Law from FGV Direito SP, an LL.M in Contract Law from INSPER, and a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.
The post New CMN and SPA rules reorganize the iGaming and sports betting landscape in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
Africa7 days agoBetConstruct AI to present World Cup 2026 sportsbook offer at iGaming Afrika
-
apuestas6 days ago
Brasil: gobierno prohíbe los mercados de predicción, avanzan las reformas de integridad y crece el debate publicitario
-
AML7 days ago
Isle of Man Adopts New Laws Ahead of Vital AML Review
-
AI7 days ago
SoftConstruct unveils RecSys AI game recommendation system at AIBC Eurasia
-
Blokotech7 days ago
Blokotech completes Malta stop of Bloko Padel Tour 2026 with 35 teams
-
API integration7 days ago
Reliability in Motion: Why Modern Digital Businesses are Abandoning the Single-Vendor Model
-
Asia3 days ago
NOVOMATIC to Debut New Linked Progressive Innovations and Expanded Portfolio at G2E Asia 2026
-
Baltics3 days ago
Kanggiten: From B2C Insight to B2B Performance in iGaming
