On Monday, December 9, the Prizes and Bets Secretariat of the Ministry of Treasury (SPA-MF) and the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) formalized a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT). This agreement aims to speed up the blocking of websites that exploit fixed-odd betting illegally, creating a direct and efficient flow of information between institutions. Since October 11, authorities have taken down more than 5,200 irregular websites.
Challenges and regulation of the betting sector
The accelerated growth of the online betting market has brought regulatory challenges to Brazil. Many platforms operate underground, disregarding the legal regulations proposed by the Federal Government and exposing consumers to financial risks. ACT addresses these irregularities in an integrated manner, using technology and efficient communication between agencies.
With the consolidation of the fixed odds betting regulation process in 2024, several rules were published.
These standards establish strict criteria for legal operation in Brazil. Thus, from January 1, 2025, the regulated market will begin its activities.
Furthermore, it will be mandatory for authorized bookmakers to include “.bet.br” in their domains. This measure will facilitate identification by users and reinforce the credibility of the platforms.
Anatel’s work plan and blocking process
The agreement provides for the preparation of a detailed Work Plan, detailing operational procedures and communication flows. Thus, SPA is responsible for identifying and cataloging irregular websites, determining their blocking. Therefore, these decisions are then sent to Anatel, which ensures that the orders are passed on to connection provider companies.
After receiving the list of illegal bookmakers, Anatel uses a methodology that considers access and connectivity infrastructure to ensure effective blockades.
Regis Dudena stated: “Anatel has already been a very important partner, since we intensified the fight against illegality. Now, with ACT, this relationship will be even more fluid and efficient, which is a win for the country in the challenge of cleaning the betting sector from the presence of opportunistic and malicious groups”
Carlos Baigorri highlighted: “The Agreement will allow an agile flow for processing blockages. We know that it is a challenging task to prevent Brazilians from accessing illegal betting sites and, precisely for this reason, cooperation is essential so that the blocks are carried out in the shortest possible time by telecommunications service operators. We have a duty, as a State body, to combat illicit practices, which cause competitive imbalances and disrespect our legislation”
