The advancement of betting regulation in Brazil gained a new chapter with the strengthening of discussions about the role of the financial system in combating illegal operations.
Since the approval of Law No. 14,790, in 2023, the government began to authorize operators, define rules and block irregular platforms. Now, the focus also reaches banks, fintechs and payment institutions.
The discussion gained strength throughout 2026. At the end of May, the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved Bill 4,044/2025, which establishes the Legal Framework to Combat the Illegal Gaming and Betting Market.
The proposal seeks to expand inspection mechanisms and restrict financial access for companies that operate outside the rules established by regulation.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance and the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) intensified market monitoring actions. As a result, the government expanded blocks of irregular websites and reinforced compliance requirements for authorized operators.
Hans Schleier, COO of Casa de Apostas, assesses: “The fight against illegal operations involves different fronts, and monitoring financial flows is one of them.
Measures that make it difficult for unauthorized companies to operate contribute to strengthening the regulated market, increasing user safety and promoting a more balanced competitive environment for operators that comply with the requirements established by regulation.”
How the project increases control over irregular operators
The approved text provides for greater participation by financial institutions in identifying operations related to platforms without SPA authorization. This way, banks, fintechs and payment processors would monitor transactions more rigorously.
Furthermore, the proposal includes mechanisms to check the regulatory status of operators, identify suspicious movements and even block accounts or transfers linked to irregular companies.
Cristiano Costa, psychologist and director of knowledge at EBAC (Brazilian Compulsive Support Company), assesses: “when the regulated market occupies its legalized space and clandestine operations lose strength, users have more access to environments that offer psychological protection mechanisms and specialized support.
This is fundamental because it reduces bettors’ exposure to platforms that operate without any security and responsibility criteria.”
How the financial system can limit the activities of illegal operators
In practice, the project seeks to make it difficult for illegal operators to move financially. Even after website blocks, many platforms continue to use bank accounts, financial intermediaries and alternative payment methods. For this reason, the financial system began to occupy a strategic position within regulatory discussions.
Daniel Fortune, digital influencer specializing in betting and responsible gaming, analyzes: “The use of payment methods as a way of combating clandestine operations is another important step towards increasingly guaranteeing the security of the sector and players.
In this context, it is worth highlighting how essential it is to combat the illegal market, since such environments are harmful to players and expose them to a series of risks due to the lack of rules and supervision.”
How the market evaluates the strengthening of financial supervision against illegal betting platforms
In the view of sector experts, the project represents another stage in the process of strengthening the regulated market.
Diego Bittencourt, CMO of Start Bet, comments: “Advancement in regulation is essential to guarantee a safer, more transparent and sustainable betting environment.”
Bernardo Cavalcanti Freire, legal consultant for the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and partner at Betlaw, states: “Initiatives such as the new measure approved by the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, in the fight against the clandestine market, are always very welcome.
Curbing illegal operations is essential and control through financial means is the most efficient way. It is absolutely essential that, as the text says, banks and payment companies monitor suspicious transactions and share information about identified fraud.
The restrictions applied to these companies, such as the temporary or definitive suspension of the activities of institutions that do not adequately comply with the determinations, are also very important.”
What measures has the government already adopted?
Since the regulation of fixed odds betting, the government has implemented a series of actions to structure the legal market.
Among the main initiatives are:
- Blocking irregular websites in partnership with Anatel;
- Requirement of federal authorization for operators;
- Creation of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA);
- Implementation of facial recognition and identity validation;
- Monitoring of irregular advertising;
- Reinforcement of money laundering prevention mechanisms;
- Monitoring of institutions suspected of intermediating illegal operations.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance increased inspections of companies without a license to operate in the country. Meanwhile, the Central Bank began discussing measures related to the financial tracking of the sector’s operations.
Thiago Garrides, CEO of Cactus Gaming, reinforces: “Brazilian regulation has evolved significantly in recent years and is now entering a stage of greater maturity.”
Financial monitoring, combined with tracking technologies, behavior analysis and money laundering prevention, strengthens the regulated market and makes the operation of illegal platforms more difficult.
The objective is to create a more transparent, sustainable and safe ecosystem for all participants in order to prevent the growth of illegal betting.”
The debate also follows other issues being discussed in the National Congress and the Ministry of Finance. These include betting advertising, consumer protection, problem gambling prevention, financial tracking and holding illegal operators accountable.
