LATAM

The Senate of Argentina has resumed negotiations to complete the federal bill designed to strengthen protections against problem gambling and introduce tighter controls on advertising and youth protections. The initiative, which secured overwhelming preliminary approval in the Chamber of Deputies last November, has since stalled in the upper house, where committees remain divided on its federal application…

The betting regulator in Brazil, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA), is taking further measures to ensure acceptance of the two most widely claimed state benefits are excluded from betting.

Late last year, Brazil’s Supreme Court opted to exclude reimbursements of the Bolsa Familia Programme (PBF) and Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC) benefits from wagering with licensed operators. This came ahead of the launch of the ‘Bets’ regulated market on 1 January 2025.

The SPA began taking steps in April 2025 to ensure the exclusion was being adopted effectively. It has now followed this up with the creation of a database of PBF and BPC users which operators are required to consult during KYC checks, user registration and logins.

Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Finance, said: “To ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, it was necessary to develop a robust technical tool, carefully ensuring that the measure guaranteed the protection of the rights involved.

“Protecting citizens, their security, their rights, and their personal data are always objectives of the Brazilian Government.”

Betting, benefits and poverty reduction
Brazil’s betting market understandably generated a lot of hype, with the country hosting an adult population of just under 170 million, an estimated football fanbase of well over 100 million, and the world’s 10th largest economy by GDP.

It is also a country which faces various socio-economic challenges, however, which benefits like the Bolsa Familia were introduced to alleviate. Bolsa Familia in particular is one of the most widely claimed benefits in Brazil with over 54 million people receiving it, and has been praised as contributing significantly to the reduction of poverty rates in the country.

BPC, meanwhile, is provided to those 65 and older, and is claimed by some 5.8 million people. Collectively, the Supreme Court decision prevents around a third of Brazil’s population from betting legally.

Operators have been reminded by the SPA over the past few months that the welfare benefits exclusions must be strictly adhered to. On top of the PBF/BPC database, operators have been assigned other tasks.

Licensed betting firms are required to consult the Betting Management System (Sigap), the Ministry of Finance’s guidance around the use and submission of data by betting companies, when customers Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) numbers.

Alexandre Amorim, President of Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), which designed the Sigap system, said: “This measure reinforces the State’s commitment to the ethical use of technology and to building a transparent, safe, and socially fair betting market.

“Sigap is an example of how technology can be applied strategically to meet the needs of the State and society.”

Argentina may follow suite
The notion of excluding benefits recipients from gambling appears to be catching on, certainly in Latin America at least. Brazil’s neighbour Argentina, also a key betting market in South America, is also mulling up the prospect.

The Chamber of Deputies of Salta, a province in the northwest of Argentina, has approved a bill which will prevent people who receive Universal Child Allowance (AUH) from entering betting shops, racetracks, casinos and bingo halls.

Gustavo Dantur, one of the two Representatives to table the legislation alongside fellow lawmaker Daniel Segura, explained that ‘problem gambling affects us all’, adding that ‘this is not a moral issue, and it’s an issue of economic and social harm’.

“We have a moral duty to support this law,” he remarked – a sentiment that seems to have resonated with his fellow legislators, with only two out of the Chamber’s 60 deputies voting against the proposal.

Brazil is set to implement sweeping digital reforms to enforce new online protections and safeguard children’s rights in online environments.

On Friday 19 September, President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva signed off on the federal approval of the “Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente Digital” (ECA Digital) – the new Statute for Children and Adolescents in the Digital Era.

The statute is due to be fully implemented by 30 March 2026, applying to all digital businesses and services in Brazil, including operators licensed under the Bets regime for online gambling. Alongside the statute, new laws will impose wide-ranging obligations on platforms, websites and businesses offering or promoting adult material.

As the core obligation, the ECA states that “self-declaration of the user will no longer be acceptable as proof of age, with online businesses required to adopt reliable verification methods.”

From 2026 onwards, the government will permit only “auditable processes” for online verification, such as uploading a CPF number, national identity card or driver’s licence cross-checked with official databases.

Other measures include biometric tools like facial recognition and live-verified checks to confirm that the individual matches the identification provided.

Brazil has become the first country in South America to implement specific online protections for children under the age of 18, aligning its framework with recent policies in other nations like the UK’s Online Safety Act and Australia’s Online Safety Bill.

The ECA defines adult material or restricted content as encompassing pornography and sexual exploitation, including explicit sexual material, sex work services, grooming and the exploitation of minors. It further covers violence and graphic content, such as depictions of cruelty, abuse, torture or extreme violence.

Specific content relating to drugs and controlled substances, including the promotion, sale or encouragement of narcotics and associated paraphernalia, is also included.

Gambling and betting services, such as online casinos, sports betting and lotteries not authorised for minors, are explicitly restricted. Finally, the statute prohibits content that incites or glorifies self-harm and suicide, including eating disorders or other harmful practices.

Oversight will be shared between the three bodies of the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and child protection councils across Brazil’s states.

Penalties for non-compliance are severe, with companies facing fines of up to 50m reais (approximately €9m) or 10% of their annual revenues in Brazil, as well as possible suspensions or bans.

Bets must think of the children
For the gambling sector, the ECA Digital represents a significant compliance challenge at a time when Brazil is pressing ahead with settling on the final regulatory conditions to govern online gambling licences and services under the Bets regime.

Gambling is explicitly classified as restricted content, requiring licensed operators to adopt robust age-verification systems and embed parental safeguards directly into their platforms.

Regulators will be responsible for ensuring that no minors are able to engage with gambling services and that operators meet the highest standards of digital responsibility.

Advertising sensitivities
The Statute of Child Protections must also be taken into account by the Senate and Congress in ongoing deliberations over whether to introduce a dedicated advertising law for the Bets regime.

Concerns and anxieties persist around the scale and high visibility of gambling advertising across all Brazilian media platforms and services.

As stands under Bill 2,985/2023, the use of active athletes, social media influencers and artists in gambling campaigns is prohibited, with only former athletes who have been retired for at least five years permitted to participate in campaigns.

Two further bills have been submitted to the Senate. Representative Luiz Carlos Hauly has proposed a blanket ban on gambling advertising across all mediums, with penalties including fines of up to 50m reais, suspension of domains and apps, and the revocation of licences.

Meanwhile, Senator Humberto Costa has tabled a separate bill seeking to impose stricter controls, restricting campaigns to audiences over 21 and limiting the extent of gambling advertising during sports broadcasts. Costa’s bill will further require direct monitoring and sign-off of online campaigns.

Lula: Brazil takes lead in child protections
As the first Latin American country to implement a specific statute, Human Rights Watch hailed the reforms as a landmark moment, with Hye Jung Han, Children’s Rights and Technology Researcher at HRW, stating:

“Brazil has stepped forward as the first country in Latin America to pass a dedicated law to protect children’s online privacy and safety. This is a significant advancement and should encourage other governments to act swiftly to strengthen digital protections for children.”

President Lula said the law would provide parents with “effective tools to shield children from online risks, while ensuring technology companies respect the rights of the most vulnerable.”

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) is now expected to present detailed technical guidance to help licensed operators under the Bets regime adopt the new child protection measures in line with the ECA Digital.

The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil has tabled a proposal which would see banks and fintechs play a deeper role in the fight against the black market, and safeguard the existing laws of the Bets regime.

As reported by SBC Noticias Brasil, Bill 182/2025 was presented by Congressman José Guimarães, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, proposing to hold payment providers accountable for facilitating transactions related to illegal betting.

The proposal comes as Brazilian authorities continue to have concerns of the market’s transition from a grey to regulated status as of the 1 January adoption of the Bets regime.

Within the ranks of Congress and the Senate, anxieties have been expressed over the current vulnerabilities as illicit operators are deemed to be actively targeting users of the Bolsa Familia – Brazil’s national social welfare program.

The bill will require financial institutions to closely monitor customer accounts, flagging down payouts from bets made on illegal platforms and withholding a percentage which would then be paid back to the government. Failure to comply would result in fines or other penalties.

Guimarães outlined that this would not only diminish the profitability of illegal betting and therefore make it less appealing, but would also make it more traceable.

Brazilian news outlet O Globo further noted that based on Brazil’s Annual Budget Bill (PLOA), the draft bill will unlock around R$20bn (£2.7bn) in additional funding in 2026.

In his proposal, Guimarães stated that these funds will then be used to subsidise national health programmes, including prevention and treatment of gambling disorders.

“By jointly [making] financial and payment institutions responsible for facilitating transactions of unauthorised operators, the proposal creates an effective mechanism to block the financial flow of illicit activities and ensure the collection of taxes due,” the bill reads.

Additional provisions will ensure that those found guilty of promoting unlicensed gambling content will also face repercussions.

Response is overall positive
While the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Fedraban) confirmed that it fully supports any measures to reduce the influence of the black market, it also called for caution and asked for the bill to be carefully analysed to avoid any negative side effects.

The directive to directly monitor gambling deposits and transactions has received the backing of Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, who has been openly critical of the early developments in Brazil’s betting market.

Haddad previously instructed the federal police to investigate financial flows into licensed betting operators after the Central Bank reported suspicious activity. According to the Bank, in just one month, tax identification numbers linked to individual beneficiaries were used to channel more than R$3 billion into betting accounts.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) fully welcomed the draft by saying that cutting the financial flow of illegal operators will inevitably make them weaker.

“With the creation of legal mechanisms capable of interrupting this financial flow, it will be possible to weaken irregular activity and protect the bettor,” the ANJL said.

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September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

More than half of Brazil’s betting market is still being run by unlicensed operators, according to new figures from the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR).

The body has warned that since the market launch at the start of this year, this illegal activity has been leaving players exposed to fraud while draining potential tax revenue from the state.

To address the problem, IBJR has launched a new nationwide campaign, ‘No More Goats in the Room’, aiming to highlight the dangers of the black market and encourage bettors to stick with government-approved sites carrying the .bet.br domain.

Campaign brings issue into focus
The initiative is running across TV, radio, billboards and social channels until December. Its central theme – the “goat in the room” – is used to represent an obvious but often ignored problem, the organisation explained.

With 51% of the country’s betting market consisting of illegal operations, Fernando Vieira, Executive President of IBJR, said: “The goat in the room represents a problem that many see, but that needs to be addressed directly.

“Illegal betting is a risk for bettors, who have no one to turn to in case of fraud, and a loss for society, as it doesn’t generate taxes that would otherwise benefit the population.

“The campaign brings this discussion to the general public, promoting education and knowledge, and alerting people to ways to recognise platforms regulated by the Federal government and thus protect themselves from scams.”

Brazil’s nationwide betting market was launched on 1 January 2025 after years of legislative debate and development, with provisions around licensing, payments, player protection and sports integrity written in.

However, the market launch and evolution in the following months has seen, unsurprisingly, some tricky adjustments. Above all of this, the regulated industry is concerned about the lingering presence of illegal firms, as well as the way these operators market themselves such as via influencers.

The federal government has been issuing licences through the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets since January, offshore operators still continue to attract Brazilian customers with no regulatory oversight.

Risks to players and society
The Institute pointed to three main issues with illegal platforms: minors can gain access without checks, bettors risk losing their money without protection and the sites are often used to launder funds.

Licensed operators, in contrast, must run ID and facial recognition checks and are subject to anti-fraud monitoring.

The work was developed by agency We. Executive Creative Director, Carlos Schleder, detailed: “We sought a creative resource that literally demonstrates how illegal gambling can invade people’s daily lives.”

Meanwhile, fellow Director Kleyton Mourão added: “Ignoring the problem doesn’t encourage dialogue, and without it, there’s no solution. This is the first initiative to place the issue of illegal gambling on the national agenda and highlight how crucial this issue is to promoting concrete transformations.”

New tools and strong reception
The campaign also brings a digital element, with IBJR opening an Instagram account and launching Betalert – a tool that allows users to check whether a betting site is licensed by entering its URL.

Before launch, the Institute said that it tested the campaign with 1,000 people across the country. The results showed 78% considered the content credible and 77% said it was enjoyable, with the goat metaphor proving particularly memorable.

The latest push from IBJR, founded in 2023, reinforces the group’s message that illegal betting remains the biggest challenge for a sustainable and responsible industry.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/

IAB Brasil (Interactive Advertising Bureau) has launched a guide for digital advertising in the sports betting and online gaming sector, underpinning the maturing of the market.

The document puts forward rules and best practices for responsible communication on online betting platforms. The initiative addresses the legal and ethical requirements that have emerged with the regulation of the sector in Brazil.

It was developed to guide agencies, digital influencers, and advertisers by establishing limits for the promotion of betting platforms. The guide aims to ensure that campaigns comply with the regulations of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) and the guidelines of the National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (CONAR) – especially Annex X, which was created to set boundaries for the sector.

The publication reinforces IAB Brasil’s role in promoting best practices in the digital environment, and Denise Porto, CEO of IAB Brasil, highlighted the social role of regulated advertising.

“Regulated advertising plays an educational social role by informing the public about which platforms are safe and supervised,” she said. According to Porto, advertising helps build trustworthy brands that generate credibility and reduce the appeal of unregulated offers.

The guide consolidates the main legal and self-regulatory rules and guidelines applicable to betting advertising into a single document, highlighting points such as identification and transparency in advertising campaigns, licensing and compliance of operators, protection of minors and vulnerable groups, responsibility and prevention of reputational risks, and best practices for influencers and content creators.

Available for free download on the IAB website, the guide ensures broad access for all professionals working with advertising in the online betting sector.

September 15 will see SBC organise a groundbreaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today athttps://www.legendscharitygame.com/

The Brazilian regulator is in the final stages of preparing a conclusive list detailing the specific individuals who are excluded from participating in the Bets market, as reported by SBC Noticias – Brasil.

Drafted by the the Ministry of Finance‘s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the list includes public officials, minors, individuals with a professional involvement in the regulated betting market, as well as various professionals involved in sports – be it athletes, referees, officials, club delegates and coaches.

The rules around sports have been written into the ‘Bets’ regulatory regime since its inception on 1 January this year, but the high profile investigations into prominent Brazilian players like Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Henrique prompted the SPA to remind operators of their sports integrity duties.

Bolsa Familia remains a no go area
Upholding Bets’ integrity and social responsibility has led to the government’s decision to exclude a huge range of people receiving public benefits from betting and gambling, specifically those on the Bolsa Famillia and Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) schemes.

Bolsa Familia and BPC support families below the poverty line and elderly people (65 years old and over) respectively. The former is claimed by around 54 million people while the latter is claimed by over 5.8 million.

The ban on people receiving these benefits from betting in the regulated market was introduced in April, via direct orders of President Lula da Silva. Based on the number of people who claim these benefits, it can be estimated that around 30% of Brazil’s population are excluded from betting.

The decision to ban many benefit recipients from betting is a unique player protection initiative, especially for such a young market like Brazil. In contrast, more well established markets like the Netherlands, Australia and the UK have no similar initiative.

This is despite regular conversations around the relationship between betting and indebtedness in these countries – although the latter three have admittedly introduced bans on credit card payments for gambling.

Expect tougher consequences
The Brazilian government has reminded companies that they must refuse registrations, deposits, and wagers from anyone included on the list. Firms have also been told to block and refund the accounts held by anyone already on the list.

Although the benefits of the recipient element of the list is significant, the government’s main priority is likely ensuring that minors are unable to gamble. The Ministry of Justice has previously highlighted statistics showing that teenagers are the most vulnerable to gambling harm, estimating that around 55% of bettors aged between 14-17 are at risk.

Nearly nine months into the Bets regime, the government and legislature is still finding a need to adjust certain elements of its regulatory framework. Just a couple of weeks ago, for example, a Senator proposed increasing the age limit for betting from 18 to 21.

Another problem is the lingering presence of the black and grey markets, which have existed long before the Bets regime launched on 1 January. This was noted by stakeholders speaking at the SBC Summit Rio shortly after the market launch.

“We need to fight illegal houses, something that really has an impact on our market,” Rafael Borges, CEO, UX Group and Reals. “Once they are working illegally they hinder the way Brazilian people see our market.”

As the regulated market rollout continued throughout 2025, the connection between illicit markets and social media has become a particular area of concern. The role influencers play in promoting illegal gambling has often been cited.

Social media must uphold Bets protections
Last week, the Brazilian Attorney General’s Office (AGU) requested that Instagram and Facebook owner Meta remove adverts for illegal gaming platforms, citing laws requiring online betting to be operated “with prior authorisation issued by the Ministry of Finance.”

The AGU’s statement continued: “Therefore, companies that have not obtained authorization from the Ministry of Finance are operating illegally, which also makes advertising their services and applications illegal.”

“As a general rule, authorised websites must have the ending ‘.bet.br,’ for example.”

Meta has been asked to remove the illegal adverts within 48 hours and to ensure that similar adverts are not posted again. According to the AGU, Meta has pledged to update its terms and use, but needs to make additions to its verification process.

To give it credit, the social media giant has become more diligent regarding gambling advertising across the various countries it is active in – with Facebook active in nearly every country in the world, there are a lot of local gambling advertising requirements to navigate.

The Rio de Janeiro police force launched “Desfortuna Operation” carried out by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro this Thursday, the 7th, already has influencers in its list of targets in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. The operation focuses on criminal schemes involving the promotion of illegal online gambling. A total…

Brazil is gearing up for a major regulatory shift as the Ministry of Finance finalises the National Betting System (SINAPO) – a new central hub designed to bring all betting operators under one roof.

Built by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the platform looks to unify oversight at both federal and state levels, giving regulators and consumers a clearer picture of which firms are playing by the rules.

The creation of a public register of licensed companies remains at the heart of the reform. Published on the SPA’s website, the list will make it easier for punters to see which operators are legitimate, while giving approved brands valuable benefits.

From smoother bank account openings to legal advertising and app store inclusion, the move is designed to make life easier for compliant operators, but harder for those outside the system.

More than just a name on the list
Perhaps the biggest lure for operators is the opportunity to use a bet.br domain – a digital stamp that signals full SINAPO approval. Securing it means going through NIC.br, clearing legal checks with state or district authorities, and getting the green light from the SPA.

To get through the door, operators have to meet every requirement in Law No. 14,790/2023. They must also plug into Brazil’s anti-money laundering network, Siscoaf, use geolocation to keep betting inside authorised borders, and have all systems approved by testing labs.

Tightening the net on ownership
The SPA has also detailed plans to dig deeper into who really owns Brazil’s betting brands. Under SINAPO, operators will need to disclose their entire corporate chain, from holding companies to individual shareholders.

This is aimed at stopping the same group from picking up multiple concessions across different states – a restriction rooted in Law No. 13,756/2018.

Ongoing shifts
Since Brazil’s regulated betting market officially launched on 1 January 2025, the scene has been moving fast. Lawmakers are already looking at additional measures that would affect both operators and players.

Last week, Senator Humberto Costa proposed raising the legal betting age from 18 to 21 and capping monthly deposits to the equivalent of one minimum wage, while allowing the Ministry of Finance to set extra daily or weekly limits.

The proposal also targets advertising, aiming to restrict betting promotions between 6am and 10pm, ban sponsorship of public sports, cultural or festival events, and stop all marketing aimed at under-21s.

Costa says these measures are intended to protect vulnerable players, citing cases where gambling has caused serious social harm and even diverted funds from essentials like tuition and daily living.

These steps build on earlier rules introduced since the market rollout, including bans on influencer or athlete endorsements, in-stadium ads and live sports betting promotions.

Brazil’s betting scene is expanding quickly, but regulators seem to be acting just as fast to make sure growth happens responsibly.