The need to strengthen the regulatory framework for sports betting in Brazil is evident. One of the fundamental steps is to remove sites that operate outside the rules from the market. Another measure considered essential is to expand the legal powers of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to intensify supervision of the betting sector.
Last Tuesday (03), Gesilea Fonseca Teles, superintendent of Inspection at Anatel, participated in the CPI on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting. During her presentation, she highlighted the collaboration between Anatel and the Ministry of Finance to block illegal betting sites. Furthermore, Teles addressed the limits of the agency’s role in this process.
Anatel’s role in blocking betting platforms
Gesilea explained that Anatel does not have the autonomy to decide which sites should be blocked. Its function is operational, receiving a list of addresses from the Ministry of Finance and communicating telecommunications operators about the necessary blocks.
“Anatel does not carry out investigations. It only informs internet providers about sites that should be blocked based on the list sent by the Ministry of Treasury,” said Gesilea.
Communication between entities is fast and efficient, ensuring that measures are implemented without delay. However, the agency manages more than 20 thousand internet access providers, prioritizing the largest, which dominate 80% of the market. Then, after the blockade, tests are carried out to confirm the effectiveness of the measure.
Technological challenges and the issue of VPNs
Anatel faces one of its main challenges with virtual private networks (VPNs). These tools allow users to “circumvent” geographic blocks when connecting to servers in other countries.
According to Gesilea, “access via VPN is encrypted, making it difficult to identify the user and allowing them to escape restrictions imposed in Brazil.”
The superintendent suggested that combating this practice requires a larger budget, specialized personnel and expansion of Anatel’s legal powers.
She reinforced that, currently, the agency only regulates telecommunications services, without interfering:
- In internet content
- In the performance of platforms such as Google and other providers.
Proposal to expand Anatel’s competencies
Gesilea revealed that the presidency of Anatel has already presented a draft law to amend articles of the Marco Civil da Internet. The proposal seeks to allow the agency to act more broadly, holding companies that facilitate the operation of illegal websites accountable.
The measure aims to encompass internet providers and large digital platforms, thereby increasing the effectiveness of combating irregular betting sites.
Thus, in collaboration with the Ministry of Treasury, Anatel has already helped block more than 5,250 illegal websites. Gesilea highlighted that telecommunications operators cooperate and carry out the blocks without resistance.
“There is no record of non-compliance with the orders. If there were, the providers could lose the grant, as provided for in the General Telecommunications Law”, detailed the superintendent.
According to Gesilea, the cooperation system between Anatel, the Ministry of Treasury and operators has worked well. However, for the actions to move forward, experts consider the expansion of Anatel’s legal powers to be essential.
Gesilea highlighted that, to date, there have been no fines imposed or sanctioning processes initiated regarding non-compliance with prohibitions on betting sites, as determined by the Ministry of Treasury.
Furthermore, she emphasized the existence of fines in the General Telecommunications Law, which can reach amounts of up to R$50 million per infraction.
