Brazil’s legal gambling market: a historic 1st year
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26 Jan 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Brazil’s regulated online betting market expanded rapidly in 2025, its first full year of operation after the legal framework came into force on 1ᵉʳ January. According to official data from the Secretariat of Prices and Betting (SPA), licensed operators generated nearly BRL 37 billion in gross gaming revenue, while the state collected around BRL 10 billion in tax revenue.
A legal market worth billions
According to the latest figures published by the Secretariat of Prices and Betting (SPA), the licensed online betting sector generated BRL 37 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in its first full year of operation. That’s the equivalent of around €6 billion, a remarkable performance for a market that is still in its infancy.
Even more significant is the fiscal impact: the Federal Tax Administration (Receita Federal) collected nearly BRL 10 billion in tax revenue from these activities, underlining both the vitality of the sector and the strategic interest of regulating it for public finances. BRL 1.1 billion of this sum was collected in December 2025 alone.
This success is based on the participation of 79 licensed operators, each of whom paid BRL 30 million for their authorisation, which represents approximately BRL 2.5 billion in licence fees, as well as almost BRL 95.5 million in regulatory inspection costs.
Who bets in Brazil? A vast and diverse public
Behind these figures lies a large and active public: 25.2 million Brazilians placed at least one bet on legal platforms during the year. Of these, almost 68.3% were men, while 31.7% were women, and the most represented age group was 31-40, with 28.6% of bets placed. Young adults (18-30) also make up a substantial proportion of players.
Persistent challenges
Behind these economic successes, however, lie complex challenges for the Brazilian authorities. One of the most sensitive issues is the fight against the illegal market. Despite the opening up of a legal framework, estimates suggest that up to 50% of online betting could still be carried out by unauthorised operators.
Faced with this reality, the SPA has deployed significant coercive measures. In partnership with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), more than 25,000 illegal sites have been blocked, making access more difficult for punters. In addition, 132 cases have been opened against 133 companies suspected of violations, and sanctions are underway for more than 80 cases.
Action is not limited to the platforms themselves: financial monitoring has led institutions to report 1,255 suspicious transactions involving illegal operators, resulting in the closure of 550 bank accounts linked to these activities. At the same time, social media came under particular scrutiny, with 412 inspection procedures against influencers, 324 profiles and 229 publications having been removed for non-compliance.
Player protection
Another aspect of regulation concerns the protection of punters themselves. In December 2025, the SPA launched a centralised self-exclusion platform, enabling users to voluntarily block their access to betting sites. This initiative was an immediate success, with more than 217,000 requests registered in just 40 days.
The main reason given by users for restricting themselves is evocative: loss of control linked to mental health, a problem that the authorities and experts are increasingly calling for to be taken seriously. Almost 73% of requests for self-exclusion were made for an indefinite period, a sign that many feel permanently affected by their relationship with games.
What can we learn from this online betting revolution?
2025 was a major year for regulated online gambling in Brazil. Not only has the country succeeded in structuring a formal market capable of attracting tens of millions of players and several billion in revenue, but it has also put in place mechanisms to ensure control and social protection.
The story is still in its infancy, but 2025 will undoubtedly have been the year when Brazil bet big – and started to win.