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Secretário de Prêmios e Apostas do Ministério da Fazenda, Regis Alexandre Dudena, em pronunciamento. Foto: Saulo Cruz/Agência Senado

Of the more than 100 betting companies that were authorized to operate at the end of 2024, only 66 obtained permission to operate in the regulated betting market in Brazil. According to Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at the Ministry of Treasury, the exclusion of several companies occurred due to the lack of required documents or doubts regarding their suitability.

“Some of these companies were not approved because their authorization applications were deficient. For example, of the 100 documents required, some presented only 20”, declared Dudena in a recent interview.

The secretary highlighted that the government adopts a cautious stance in the authorization process, emphasizing that there is no obligation to grant permission for operation.

“If we have sufficient elements to, for example, have legitimate doubts regarding the conduct of that company, the suitability of that company or the illegal behavior of that company, we may not grant this authorization based on this provision of the law,” he stated.

Main challenges in combating irregularities

Dudena reinforced that, from January 1, 2025, only companies with authorization can operate nationally. Betting companies that are still waiting for the approval process to be completed or have had their requests denied are prohibited from operating.

Secretary of Prizes and Bets, Régis Dudena. Photo: Pedro França/Agência Senado

If identified, their websites will be taken down. Despite the difficulties, the secretary believes that the existence of a regulated market is already a significant step. “The existence of authorized and legal companies tends to lead bettors to bet on these companies”, he explained.

Additional measures are also being planned to block financial transactions with unauthorized betting companies.

Dudena mentioned that there are discussions with the Central Bank to prevent the use of PIX for remittances abroad. He explained that illegal companies often use intermediaries to transfer resources abroad, but mechanisms are being developed to track and block these movements.

Rules of the regulated betting market

Since the beginning of this year, betting in Brazil has been subject to a series of rules established in 2024. Among the main ones are the rules on the systems that companies must use, the types of games allowed and the requirements for financial operations. Measures were also implemented to combat money laundering and protect the mental and financial health of bettors.

To ensure compliance with the rules, the Ministry of Treasury instituted monitoring and inspection ordinances, in addition to sanctioning processes. Penalties for infractions range from warnings to fines that can reach R$2 billion.

In more serious cases, such as repeated or more serious infractions, companies may have their authorizations revoked and be banned from operating in the country.

State lotteries

Another topic discussed by Dudena was the role of state lotteries. According to a decision by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), state lotteries can only operate within the limits of their states.

Minister André Mendonça highlighted that Loterj, for example, is prohibited from providing services outside the state of Rio de Janeiro. Advertising for these lotteries is also restricted to state territories. To operate at a national level, authorization from the Federal Government is required.

Impacts of betting regulation and expectations for the future

Regulation also raised expectations for the sector, including the possibility of adjustments based on data obtained during the first year of operation. Dudena stated that regulation will be dynamic, following market developments and responding to its needs.

Regarding the collection, he highlighted that the companies’ financial data is still being analyzed, which will allow for more accurate estimates in the future. As for betting among the economically disadvantaged classes, the secretary recognized that the issue requires constant attention.

Regulatory measures will be evaluated and adjusted as necessary to protect vulnerable bettors. Finally, Dudena emphasized that a total ban on betting is not a viable solution, as it could strengthen the illegal market.