Apple allows licensed betting apps on Brazil’s App Store

Apple has updated its App Store rules to allow fixed-odds betting apps in Brazil, but only for operators holding a valid licence from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance.

Apple has changed its App Store policy for Brazil and now allows the distribution of apps offering fixed-odds betting, provided that the operator has a valid licence from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance. The updated requirement was published by Apple on May 8, 2026, and applies to apps with gambling features submitted through App Store Connect.

Under the new rules, developers must provide their Brazilian fixed-odds betting licence during the App Store review process. Apple said that apps answering “Yes” to the gambling question in the age rating questionnaire will need to submit licence information, supporting documents and relevant details in the App Review Information section. These apps will also receive an A18 age rating in Brazil.

The change aligns Apple’s marketplace policy with Brazil’s regulated betting framework. The Ministry of Finance states that fixed-odds betting was legalised for sports betting under Law No. 13,756/2018 and for online games under Law No. 14,790/2023. Since January 1, 2025, only companies authorised by the SPA have been allowed to operate nationally, and each authorised brand must use the “.bet.br” domain.

For licensed operators, the decision removes an important distribution barrier. Until now, many iOS users in Brazil had to access betting platforms through mobile browsers instead of native apps. Brazilian industry media noted that legal betting companies and government representatives had been pressing Apple to open the App Store to regulated operators, arguing that authorised apps could help move users away from illegal platforms.

Apple also made clear that technical approval will not replace local compliance. Betting apps must meet disclosure and warning requirements under Brazilian law, including age restrictions and gambling-risk warnings. A new app version must be submitted to start the licence verification process; simply updating the App Review Information section is not enough.

For Brazil’s betting market, this is a significant step in the transition from regulatory approval to practical market operation. Licensed companies gain a stronger route to mobile users, while the SPA framework becomes more visible inside major digital distribution channels. The next challenge will be enforcement: ensuring that only authorised operators reach Brazilian consumers through app stores and that responsible gambling standards are properly applied in the mobile environment.