Brazil Tightens Rules for Online Betting

Brazilian authorities are tightening oversight of the country's regulated online betting market by restricting social engagement features on gambling platforms while also weighing further limits on betting advertising.

The latest action comes from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), which informed licensed operators that social media-style functions cannot be incorporated into regulated betting services. The clarification followed a request from Kaizen Gaming, which asked whether its Betano platform could introduce new interaction tools for registered users.

SPA Rejects Social Interaction Functions

Kaizen proposed an integrated social environment where customers could share betting slips, highlight preferred casino or slot games, and display gambling wins through user profiles. The SPA concluded these features conflict with Brazil's gambling regulations.

According to the regulator, sharing betting activity or gambling results qualifies as data sharing even without direct messaging. Officials said these functions could encourage riskier gambling by mirroring social media engagement.

In a response signed by Renato Perez Pucci, General Coordinator of Betting Supervision, the SPA stated that Ordinance SPA/MF No. 722/2024 already prohibits social interaction tools on licensed betting platforms.

Loyalty programs remain permitted under the Bets framework but must comply with Article 42 of Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,231/2024, which bars operators from encouraging customers to gamble more or alter their betting habits.

Advertising Restrictions Gain Political Support

Federal authorities are also considering tighter controls on betting advertisements.

Finance Ministry official Dario Durigan said the government is weighing limits on betting advertising during World Cup broadcasts, bringing gambling promotion closer to restrictions applied to alcohol and tobacco.

Durigan also suggested requiring warnings stating: “The Ministry of Finance warns: betting sites are harmful to your health and cause you to lose income.”

The National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) has opened an investigation into the display of sports betting odds during CazéTV broadcasts.

Lorena Dinarowski, a lawyer at Bruno Boris Advogados, said: “The most likely scenario is not a ban on betting companies, but the strengthening of the sector’s operating rules, particularly regarding advertising,” he detailed.

Industry and Lawmakers Debate Future Rules

Industry representatives warned tighter advertising rules could push customers toward illegal operators. Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), raised that concern.

Juliana Sene Ikeda, of Campos Thomaz Advogados, said: “The greater the reliance on tax revenue, the less political room there tends to be for measures that reduce the volume of betting.”

Congress is reviewing more than 230 bills that could reshape betting regulation. Caio Ruotolo, a partner at Silveira Advogados, said the Finance Ministry generally prioritizes tax collection while lawmakers place greater emphasis on the wider effects of regulation.

Henrique Gasparino, executive director of NimbusTax, cautioned that excessive restrictions could produce unintended consequences and “encourages bettors to migrate to underground platforms.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Congress are also considering broader Bets Law reforms, including stronger consumer protections, tighter licensing standards, stricter advertising rules and a ban on gambling with borrowed money. A wider overhaul is expected after the 2026 general election, with implementation planned for 2027.

Source:

“Brazil authorities draws a line on social gambling features”, sbcnews.co.uk. Jun 29, 2026