Brazil: New guidelines for sports betting and iGaming

The Brazilian Ministry of Sports has published new guidelines for approving sports betting and iGaming operations. These guidelines, set out in MESP Regulation 98/2024, clarify that the National Secretariat of Sports Betting is responsible for reviewing applications for licenses. A specially formed technical team will analyze the applications and record their findings in the Betting Management System (Sigap).

Technical team takes charge of license applications

According to the new regulation, the technical team will consist of three members who will review the applications for licenses. These reviews will then be registered in Sigap before approvals are granted. This process is set up according to the guidelines of Interministerial Regulation 28/2024.

The initial review of each application will be carried out by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA). Once SPA has completed its review, the Ministry of Sports will give the final approval. In cases where ambiguities or disputes arise, the State Attorney’s Office will intervene to make a final decision.

Role of the Sports Betting Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate

The regulation also appoints the Sports Betting Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate as a key player in the process. This team, consisting of a director and two coordinators from both the Monitoring and Integrity Departments, will evaluate applications, request additional information if necessary, and record their decisions in the Sigap system.

Lula’s government pushes for payment restrictions on online gambling

In addition to the new regulation, the Brazilian government, led by President Lula, announced this week that payment restrictions will be introduced for sports betting and online gambling. This is part of broader measures to regulate the country’s rapidly growing gambling sector. Although the details of these restrictions are still being discussed, it is clear that the government wants to exercise greater control over financial transactions within the gambling world.

Meetings with legal sports betting operators to discuss payment restrictions

The Ministry of Finance has already scheduled meetings with legal operators in Brazil to discuss payment restrictions. According to Dário Durigan, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, these discussions will focus on authorized sites that are still operating in the country. The focus is on ensuring a fair and regulated market.