Brazilian Online Betting Market Goes Live

Brazil’s road to launching a regulated online betting market has been a long one. We’ve covered the story as it’s developed, including the publication of ordinances, and touched on potential delays. However, things ramped up towards the end of 2024, and on 1 January 2025, the Brazilian online betting market finally went live.

Of course, there will be bumps in the road to come, which is to be expected from any new gambling market. Despite this, it’s still an exciting time for the industry in South America, and indeed around the world. Let’s take a look at the new Brazilian online betting market in more detail.

How We Got Here

In Brazil, most forms of gambling have been outlawed since the 1940s. However, increasing calls for a review of the laws eventually forced the government to take note. In 2023, the Brazilian authorities passed legislation that would see the launch of a regulated online casino and sports betting market in the country.

In 2024, Brazil passed further legislation that set out tax rules for new casinos in the country and laws concerning player protection. Further legislation laid out rules for licensing and restrictions on advertising.

Initial Operators in Brazil

As the new Brazilian online betting market kicks off, a total of 14 operators are currently licensed to provide gambling services in the country. Together, these operators represent 30 different gambling brands.

There are also an additional 52 operators holding provisional licenses. Once these companies have made changes to meet Brazilian regulations, they’ll receive the green light to start operating. While these provisional licenses are only valid for 30 days, operators will have the chance to extend them for an additional 30 days to give themselves more time to review their systems and ensure they are compliant before launch.

What are the Rules?

Naturally, Brazil has established a set of unique rules and regulations that all operators must adhere to.

All licensed operators must hold .br domains. This is for the benefit of regulators and will help them more easily distinguish between operators with a license and those without.

When it comes to player protection, the Brazilian authorities have requested that all operators make use of facial recognition technology to ensure no underage players are using their platforms.

Rules surrounding payment methods have also been established. Payments using credit cards and cryptocurrencies are prohibited, and any bank transfers must first be authorised by the Central Bank of Brazil.  

What Does the Future Hold?

It may only be early days for the Brazilian online betting market, but things are moving quickly and it’s an exciting time for iGaming in South America. Brazil is an enormous country, with a population of over 211 million, so it’s unsurprising that it’s long been a target for gambling brands.

The Brazilian government has approached things in the correct way – taking the time to ensure a regulatory framework is in place before moving ahead. While operators may have work to do to meet the country’s unique laws and regulations, they’ll no doubt reap the benefits once everything is up and running.

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