Brazil’s federal government announced measures to tackle illegal gambling, including action against financial flows and people involved in structuring unauthorised operations. Hebara chief executive Amilton Noble welcomed the measures, but said they would need to produce concrete results.
The measures could affect licensed operators and businesses that facilitate or promote unauthorised betting in Brazil.
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Reportedly, Brazil's Consumer Secretariat met in Brasília with government agencies and industry organisations to discuss betting regulation, misleading advertising and oversight challenges. The meeting addressed difficulties in improving how the sector is monitored.
The Chamber of Deputies’ Communication Committee approved a bill to combat unauthorised gambling and betting in Brazil. The proposal would require financial and payment institutions to monitor transactions and report monthly, with breaches potentially attracting fines of up to R$ 20 million, service suspensions or restrictions on Pix and TED.
It was reported that SPA told a congressional hearing it had blocked over 60,000 non-compliant websites through automated processes. Officials also outlined measures to freeze illegal operators’ funds and enable consumer reimbursement.
Brazil’s finance minister Dario Durigan and justice and public security minister Wellington César Lima e Silva are due to announce measures against the illegal fixed-odds betting market on 19 June. The announcement is scheduled for 10:00 at the Ministry of Finance auditorium.
Brazil republished Decree No. 13,033 in the Official Gazette to correct three provisions, after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed it on 19 June, according to the report. The decree provides measures to combat illegal betting and assigns accountability to financial and payment institutions and influencers linked to the irregular market; lawyer Roberto Brasil Fernandes said it could strengthen coordination and enforcement.