Brazil’s Ministry of Finance establishes regulatory agenda for prize and betting sector

The Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) has issued Ordinance SPA/MF No. 817, dated April 15, 2025, instituting the Regulatory Agenda for the 2025-2026 biennium. The measure aims to strengthen oversight, promote responsible gambling, and ensure a balanced regulatory framework for Brazil’s betting sector.

Key Objectives of the Regulatory Agenda

The agenda outlines 13 key initiatives structured around three core themes:

1. Promotion of Responsible Gambling, prevention of pathological gambling, and mitigation of negative externalities.

2. Ensuring a transparent and balanced regulatory environment with adequate compliance standards.

3. Strengthening national regulation and enforcement to combat illegal operators and protect consumers.

Major Initiatives and Timelines

Below are some highlights from the Regulatory Agenda:

1. Self-Exclusion and Restricted Bettors Database (Q2 2025) - Development of a centralized platform to enforce self-exclusion rules and restrictions for prohibited bettors under Law No. 14,790/2023.

2. Athlete Image Rights and Sports Branding (Q2 2025) - Refinement of compensation mechanisms for the use of athlete images, team symbols, and sports-related branding by betting operators.

3. Certification Seal for Licensed Operators (Q2 2025) - Introduction of a tokenized seal to distinguish legal operators from unlicensed platforms.

4. Modernization of Commercial Promotion Rules (Q3 2025)  - Streamlining authorization and monitoring procedures for betting-related advertising, including potential updates to Decree No. 70,951/1972.

5. Reform of Instant Lottery (LOTEX) Regulations (Q3 2025) - Review of the existing LOTEX framework under Law No. 13,155/2015 to improve operational efficiency.

6. Regulation of Betting Service Providers (Q3 2025) - Expansion of oversight to include online gaming providers, odds suppliers, and live gaming studios to enhance market integrity.

7. National Betting System (Q4 2025) - Coordination with states and the Federal District to establish unified standards for responsible gambling, anti-money laundering (AML), and technical requirements.

8. Enhanced Support for Problem Gamblers (Q4 2025) - New guidelines for operators to improve assistance for bettors and families affected by gambling addiction.

9. Strengthened Enforcement Procedures (Q1 2026) - Improved inspection protocols for licensed operators and crackdowns on illegal platforms.

10. Streamlined Operator Licensing (Q1 2026) - Revision of authorization processes based on lessons from initial licensing cycles.

11. Certification Requirements for Auditors (Q2 2026) - Updates to rules for entities certifying betting systems, including potential mandates for local offices.

12. Modernization of Savings-Based Lottery Rules (Q3 2026) - Overhaul of regulations governing popular savings-linked lottery schemes under Law No. 5,768/1971.

13. Sanctions Framework Update (Q4 2026) - Refinement of penalties for violations related to fixed-odds betting.

Effective Date

The ordinance takes effect immediately upon publication.