Brazil to tighten online betting rules as retail sector pushes for curbs

Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said the government will introduce further restrictions on online betting platforms, as pressure mounts from retailers linking the sector to weak consumer spending and rising household debt.

The comments came during a meeting in Brasília with retail leaders including the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets and the Brazilian Association of Wholesalers and Distributors.

“We also discussed the issue of... bets... They weren't regulated, it was all clandestine. So it was regulated, taxes were applied, and there will be further tightening to prevent this mobile gaming, which is a very worrying thing, leading to gambling addiction,” Alckmin said.

The government has previously moved to regulate and tax the betting sector, aiming to formalise what it described as an unregulated market. The new measures are expected to focus on curbing risks of gambling addiction, particularly from mobile gaming.

Retail groups have increasingly called for stricter controls, arguing that the growth of betting platforms has contributed to weaker consumption trends and higher levels of household indebtedness. The issue has become a key priority for the sector’s lobbying efforts.

The meeting also covered broader policy matters, including legislation to allow full-service pharmacies in supermarkets and discussions around the Worker’s Food Program.

Tensions between the retail and gaming sectors have escalated in recent months. In June 2025, ABRAS launched a campaign calling for higher taxes on betting platforms, prompting a legal challenge from the National Association of Games and Lotteries.

ANJL disputed claims that betting had harmed the retail sector, saying allegations of R$103 billion ($19.51 billion) in losses “lack empirical basis” and describing them as “generalized and potentially defamatory allegations that go beyond criticism of specific agents and affect the sector as a whole.”

“Official data from IBGE shows that retail sales registered growth of 4,7% in 2024, and there are no objective elements linking the sector's performance to the regulated gambling market,” the group said. 

Data from Brazil’s Finance Ministry, obtained through the Access to Information Law, shows that 53.4% of bettors spend up to $9.47 per month on sports betting and online games, while 11.45% spend between R$50 ($9.47) and R$150 ($28.42). A further 6.4% spend between R$150 ($28.42) and R$300 ($56.84), 9.4% between R$300 ($56.84) and R$1,000 ($189.46), and 19.5% spend more than R$1,000 ($189.46) monthly. The average monthly spend was R$122 ($23.11) in 2025.

Plínio Lemos Jorge said the retail sector had chosen to “choose a scapegoat” for rising food prices. “In their opinion, the bets They are responsible. It's absurd, because it spreads a fake news Its objective is to attack a legitimate sector of the economy, which, this year alone, will generate billions in taxes,” he said.

Industry analysts have also warned that excessive restrictions could drive users to unregulated operators. According to one analyst, limiting legal betting “will favor the illegal market” as consumers seek alternatives outside regulated channels.