Bets in Brazil Mark One Year of a Regulated Market in 2026 Amid Advances, Oversight, and the Casino Debate

Enacted at the end of 2024 and in force since January 1, 2025, Law 14,790/2023—known as the “Bets Law”—has profoundly reshaped Brazil’s iGaming market. In just twelve months, online betting moved out of a legal gray area into a defined regulatory framework, operating under authorization from the federal government through the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF).

The new regulated environment has provided greater legal certainty for licensed platforms and strengthened the gambling sector’s role in the formal economy, while also increasing public scrutiny of its social and financial impacts.

What Changed With Regulation

Under the new legislation, betting operators must comply with a series of requirements to operate legally in Brazil. These include paying a BRL 30 million licensing fee valid for five years, an 18% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR), and monthly supervision fees that can reach up to BRL 2 million.

The law also introduced stricter control mechanisms, such as mandatory use of CPF (tax ID) and identity verification—including facial biometrics—the prohibition of credit cards, bank slips, and cryptocurrencies, and the centralization of payments via Pix through institutions authorized by the Central Bank. Responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits, time controls, and self-exclusion, became mandatory.

Economic Impact and User Growth

The economic effects of regulation were immediate. According to data from the Ministry of Finance, betting operators generated approximately BRL 32 billion in revenue in 2025. The Federal Revenue Service reports that this volume resulted in more than BRL 8 billion in tax collection, constitutionally allocated to areas such as education, public security, and sports.

The sector’s reach also expanded rapidly. A survey by the National Confederation of Shopkeepers (CNDL) and the Credit Protection Service (SPC) indicates that around 40 million Brazilians have placed at least one bet, with an estimated 25 million considered regular bettors. At the same time, official data show more than 200,000 people registered on the Ministry of Finance’s Centralized Self-Exclusion Platform, underscoring the importance of responsible gambling policies in the regulatory debate.

Betting, Sponsorships, and Football

Among the sectors most impacted by the consolidation of betting is football. In 2025, clubs in Brazil’s top division received more than BRL 1 billion in sponsorships from betting companies. For 2026, the trend is expected to continue, as at least 15 of the 20 teams competing in the league maintain commercial agreements with betting platforms.

At the same time, the growth of sports betting has intensified attention on match integrity. In 2025, the federal government created the National Policy Working Group to Combat the Manipulation of Sports Results, tasked with developing measures to prevent fraud and preserve the credibility of competitions.

Oversight, Illegal Market, and What Comes Next

Despite the progress, the gambling sector enters 2026 facing structural challenges. Oversight of payment flows by the Central Bank remains a top priority for the government—a concern previously highlighted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Strengthening responsible gambling tools to mitigate social harms associated with betting is another critical issue.

Combating the illegal market also remains central to the agenda. Estimates suggest that unlicensed sites move up to BRL 10 billion per year in Brazil without paying taxes or offering consumer protections, threatening the sustainability of the regulated market.

On the regulatory horizon, attention now turns to Bill 2,234/2022. While online casinos are already regulated as “virtual gaming,” the legalization of land-based casinos, bingo halls, and the traditional jogo do bicho is still awaiting final decisions in the Senate. The outcome of this bill is widely seen by the industry as the next major chapter in Brazil’s gambling sector.