First Online Gambling Applications Gaining Approval in Brazil
Brazil makes steps towards offering regulated online gambling, having authorised its first wave of applications.
Key Facts:
- Brazil has started authorising its first 71 online gambling applications
- The country is set to start formally regulating online gambling on 1st January 2025
- 16 of the 71 companies have already paid the required licence fee
- All companies have to complete a four-stage review before being granted a licence
On 1st January 2025, Brazil will launch its regulated online gambling market. In anticipation of this, the country has started completing its first load of online gambling applications, of which there are 71. This comes as more than 5,200 illegal gambling sites have been taken down.
This comes as the country continues to experience a surge in online gambling. Regis Dudena, the Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Finance (SPA) has said the following about where the country is regarding its gambling applications:
71 companies have already been notified by the Ministry of Finance, and they have 30 days from the notification to meet these final requirements. Of these, 16 have already paid the license fee. Today, we have 16 companies that have paid a total of R$480m (US$81.1m) in licensing fees to the Ministry of Finance.– Regis Dudena, SPA, Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Comments on Gambling Applications
Licence Requirements and Illegal Sites
For a company to be officially able to offer online gambling services, it must pass a stringent four-part review and pay the necessary fee. The review is in place to ensure that companies are making an effort and doing more than the bare minimum in certain areas, including:
- Having a reliable, secure payment processing system
- Adhering to strict security protocols
- Offering plenty of responsible gambling resources
- Following anti-money laundering measures
As part of an effort to promote regulated gambling sites, the SPA signed a deal with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). This has resulted in more than 5,200 illegal gambling sites being shut down since 11th October. The idea is simple: to encourage Brazilians to visit regulated sites only.
Dudena has praised the partnership with Anatel, saying that it should make the process of shutting down illegal gambling sites a lot quicker and more efficient in the future. This should help steer Brazilians towards safe sites and reduce things such as harm, theft and corruption.
Carlos Baigorri, the president of Anatel, has acknowledged that preventing people in Brazil from accessing illegal sites is a challenge. However, he believes that working with the SPA is essential if the country is going to clamp down on illegal gambling.
So long as things go according to plan, it looks like Brazil’s online gambling landscape will see a significant change for the better from the beginning of 2025. With regulation in place and a crackdown on illegal sites, gambling online should be safer than ever for Brazilians.
16 of the 71 companies that have submitted applications have paid the licence fee. The SPA hasn’t confirmed the identities of any of these companies. Once 2025 starts, there’s a good chance that most, if not all, of the 71 companies will be offering regulated online gambling in Brazil.
