Brazil steps up crackdown on illegal betting as oversight efforts gain traction

Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) has reported notable progress in its efforts to regulate the betting industry and curb illegal operations during the first half of 2025. A sector summary released Tuesday highlighted measures ranging from website takedowns and financial oversight to cooperation with technology companies on advertising controls.

According to the SPA, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) took down 15,463 pages linked to unauthorized betting operators by June. In parallel, 13 payment institutions were formally notified, leading to the closure of accounts belonging to 45 companies involved in the illegal betting market.

The Secretariat also revealed that 17.7 million Brazilians placed wagers through websites and apps of the 182 companies currently authorized to operate in the country.

“This report has fundamental importance for regulation. It provides concrete data on regulatory actions, addressing issues such as oversight and control, in addition to the first figures that reflect reality rather than mere estimates,” said Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Betting.

He added: “From now on, the debate on Brazil’s fixed-odds betting market can be based on stronger evidence, allowing us to move forward with regulation based on facts.”

Brazil legalized fixed-odds betting in 2018, but for several years, the market grew without oversight. Regulatory measures began to be introduced in 2023, with most rules taking effect in 2024. Full enforcement started in early 2025. By the end of June, authorities had conducted 66 inspections covering 93 betting companies, with 35 resulting in sanctions.

SPA has focused its crackdown on three main areas: blocking illegal websites, monitoring financial institutions, and addressing unlawful advertising. Under an agreement with the Central Bank, the SPA supervises financial and payment institutions to prevent them from processing transactions for unauthorized betting companies.

Institutions are required to close accounts linked to illegal activity and report suspicious cases. In the first half of 2025, 24 institutions filed 277 reports with SPA and shut down 255 accounts belonging to both individuals and companies.

In the advertising sector, SPA signed an agreement with the Brazilian Digital Council, which includes leading technology firms such as Google, Meta, TikTok, Kwai, and Amazon.

The initiative aims to speed up the removal of ads from illegal operators and curb attempts to disguise promotional content as organic posts. By June, authorities had completed 120 investigations into illegal advertising on social media, resulting in the removal of 112 influencer pages and 146 posts.