Legal

Date: 03.01.2025

by Tomasz Jagodziński

Brazil launches the regulated fixed-odds betting market

The beginning of 2025 marks a transformative step for Brazil, as the country opens its regulated fixed-odds betting market. With 66 authorized companies and strict measures in place, this signifies a new era of transparency and state control over the betting industry.

Introduction to the regulated market

January 1, 2025, marks a crucial moment for Brazil, as the country officially launches its regulated fixed-odds betting market. A total of 66 companies have been authorized to operate following a rigorous selection process conducted by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance. These authorizations resulted in payments of approximately R$2.01 billion in licensing fees to the federal government, laying the foundation for a controlled and transparent betting environment.

The Official Gazette of the Union published definitive authorizations for 14 companies, some of which received multiple permits to manage various brands. Each license covers up to three brands, with additional licenses required for any further set of three brands. Alongside these definitive approvals, 52 companies received provisional licenses, allowing them to operate while resolving pending requirements, such as completing technical certifications for betting systems.

Holders of provisional licenses must address the pending issues within 30 days, extendable by another 30 days with justified delays. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in temporary suspensions of up to 90 days or permanent revocation of licenses, preventing them from continuing operations.

Operational guidelines and compliance requirements

From now on, all authorized operators must adhere to strict regulations, including operating betting platforms under the “.bet.br” domain. Temporary transitions are allowed for operators maintaining “.com.br” domains, although these domains cannot offer betting services. Unauthorized operators or those failing to meet regulatory standards will face sanctions, including website blocking and suspension of financial transactions.

Financial institutions are prohibited from facilitating payments to unauthorized entities. The government is committed to ensuring compliance through the supervision of operations and the blocking of unauthorized activities.

Consumer protections and responsible gambling measures

The regulations also introduce robust consumer protections. Measures include mandatory identification of bettors through CPF and facial recognition, prohibition of credits and welcome bonuses for gambling, and enhanced monitoring of financial flows to mitigate risks such as problem gambling and over-indebtedness. Operators must comply with Brazilian legal frameworks, including anti-money laundering measures and responsible gambling protocols.

These rules aim to create a safer and more transparent betting environment, reinforcing the sector’s focus on entertainment rather than exploitation. Operators violating these norms will face swift enforcement actions, including the suspension of promotional activities such as advertising and sponsorships.

Full License Recipients

The launch of Brazil’s regulated fixed-odds betting market has seen 14 companies granted definitive licenses, allowing them to operate a total of up to three brands per license. This first round of authorizations highlights key players in the industry, while some notable operators remain absent. Below is the list of full licensees and their respective brands:

  • A2FBR LTDA: Pinnacle, Matchbook, Verdinha
  • A2FBR LTDA: Betting Exchange, FullTBet, BetBra
  • SPRBT INTERACTIVE BRASIL LTDA: Superbet, MagicJackpot, Super
  • OIG GAMING BRAZIL LTDA: 7Games, Betão, R7
  • BETBOOM LTDA: BetBoom
  • LINDAU GAMING BRASIL SA: Fazobetaí, Oleybet, Betpark
  • MMD TECHNOLOGY, ENTERTAINMENT AND MARKETING LTDA: Rei do Pitaco, Pitaco
  • NSX BRASIL SA: BetNacional, Mr Jack Bet
  • APOLLO OPERATIONS LTDA: KTO
  • GALERA GAMING ELECTRONIC GAMES SA: Galera.bet
  • BOA LION SA: BetMGM, MGM
  • DIGIPLUS BRAZIL INTERACTIVE LTDA: ArenaPlus
  • ALFA ENTRETENIMENTO SA: Alfa.bet
  • BLAC GAMES LTDA: SportyBet, LanceBet
  • SEGURO BET LTDA: Seguro Bet, King Panda

Comments from officials

Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Betting, highlighted the significance of this milestone:

“The country is taking a fundamental step to address the challenges associated with the betting sector. The completion of this regulatory framework and the first round of authorizations place the fixed-odds betting market under state control, with clear rules and mechanisms for compliance. This is the result of the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Finance team, under the leadership of Minister Haddad and President Lula.”