The Brazilian Ministry of Finance has increased its efforts to combat illicit gambling in the nation by ordering the suspension of 1,812 more unlicensed gaming domains, increasing the total number of sites blacklisted to over 5,000.
This new instruction from the Ministry’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) follows similar moves taken earlier this year, and it is the third such list of prohibited sites issued to Anatel, Brazil’s national telecommunications agency.
The first round of site blocking occurred on October 11, when Anatel was told to ban 2,040 gambling sites, including prominent operators like as Boylesports and Tabcorp. On October 31, an additional 1,400 sites were added to the list, many of which had previously operated in the Brazilian market before asking for a license under the new legal framework.
The newest wave of blacklisted names raises the overall number of illicit websites to 5,200. This move comes ahead of the projected debut of Brazil’s regulated market in January 2025, which will introduce a new legal framework for betting activities.
According to Anatel, the blocking orders were delivered to about 20,000 telecommunications companies across Brazil. These firms must take technical precautions to make the illicit sites unavailable. Anatel will oversee the implementation of these guidelines to ensure that compliance is completed promptly and quickly.
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Yohan Lawrence, the head of SPA, stated that just 100 operators and 223 brands have been granted temporary license to operate in Brazil until the regulatory framework is completely implemented. Any operators not on this approved list are now deemed unlawful and will be immediately blocked.
As the regulating process progresses, Brazilian officials have expressed worries about the possible social and economic consequences of the expanding online gaming industry.
In order to safeguard consumers, particularly vulnerable groups, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) has upheld an emergency legislation that prohibits gambling marketing targeting children and wagering on social assistance funds. The new rules, which were supposed to take effect in January 2025, were implemented immediately following the STF decision.
The Brazilian government’s actions gained traction after studies revealed that a considerable part of cash from the Bolsa Família assistance program were spent on internet gambling. According to data from the Central Bank of Brazil released in August, 20% of monies received under this program were utilized for gambling.
This led to requests for stronger controls, including a ban on betting incentives, which was backed by the National Consumer Secretariat.
As Brazil’s legal gambling industry prepares for its formal opening in 2025, the government is ensuring that only licensed companies may provide services across the country. The provisional list of permitted operators will be rigorously watched, with the Ministry of Finance aiming to complete its review of betting businesses’ compliance by December 2024.
Operators that fail to comply with legal standards or breach rules, such as the Consumer Defense Code and the Child and Adolescent Statute, risk being blacklisted from operating in the nation once the legal market is fully open.
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