Brazil’s SPA Prioritizes Responsible Gambling in New Regulatory Agenda

Public Consultation Shapes New Agenda

Following the January 1 launch of Brazil’s legal online gambling market, the SPA conducted a public consultation on the regulatory framework that closed on March 27, gathering approximately 200 contributions from stakeholders. This feedback has informed the new regulatory agenda, officially published as Normative Ordinance No. 817.

According to Article 2 of the ordinance, the agenda will focus on promoting responsible gambling practices, preventing addiction, and fostering a balanced, transparent regulatory environment. The SPA has committed to releasing drafts of new regulations quarterly beginning June 30, with an emphasis on cross-industry participation in the regulatory process.

2025 Regulatory Priorities

Q2 2025: Self-Exclusion Platform & Licensing Clarity

The SPA has designated the development of a national self-exclusion platform as the “most important” item on its agenda. This platform will allow players to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling activities across all licensed operators.

Additional Q2 priorities include:

• Improving the rights model for allocating resources from betting companies to sporting entities
• Creating a distinctive seal for licensed operators to help consumers identify legal betting products
• Enhancing guidelines for supporting vulnerable bettors and their families

Q3 2025: Advertising Reforms & Market Consolidation

The third quarter will see the SPA modernize its advertising regulations, which have recently faced criticism, with multiple bills proposing stricter limitations currently under senate review.

The regulator will also:

• Review regulations on Exclusive Instant Lottery
• Regulate economic exchanges between operators and providers to combat black market operations

Q4 2025: National Betting System

To conclude its first year of initiatives, the SPA will establish a national betting system designed to align state gambling laws with federal regulations. This follows recent meetings between the SPA and state politicians at the Ministry of Finance to discuss regulatory harmonization.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The regulatory agenda extends into 2026 with several key initiatives:

• Q1 2026: Consolidation and improvement of inspection procedures to ensure adequate operator supervision
• Q2 2026: Review and enhancement of the authorization procedure based on lessons learned from the first licensing cycle, including addressing certification delays
• Q4 2026: Review of the sanctioning regime for operators that violate regulations

Recent Enforcement Actions

The SPA has already demonstrated its commitment to regulatory compliance by recently suspending the licenses of four operators that failed to provide required documentation. While Pixbet has since been reinstated after receiving full certification, the other three companies remain suspended pending completion of the certification process.

This enforcement action underscores the regulator’s determination to maintain high standards in Brazil’s nascent regulated gambling market, which has faced some implementation challenges since its January launch.