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The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has expressed its concern over the latest signs of new limitations in the operation of legal betting platforms in Brazil.
In its official statement to the press, the organization expressed its concern over the potential negative consequences of any change in the current model of regulation in Brazil’s betting market. According to the organization, any steps backward in the current model of regulation would serve as a direct stimulus for illegal betting platforms that do not offer consumer protection mechanisms.
Economic and Legal Implications of a Potential Ban
The ANJL stated that if the current public policy in Brazil’s betting market is reversed, it would have severe economic implications for the Brazilian government in the future.
In its official statement to the press, the organization stated that if the current public policy in Brazil’s betting market is reversed, it would mean a loss of around BRL 80 billion in tax revenue for the Brazilian government over the next five years, as indicated in data presented by the Ministry of Finance. This would also include public security investments that would be made through Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) 18/2025.
Besides the potential economic impact of such a decision, it is believed that there would be a series of legal conflicts in Brazil if the operation of betting platforms were banned in Brazil. It is believed that if betting platforms were banned in Brazil, there would be considerable lawsuits for damages and profits that would be lost by companies that operated in the regulated betting market in Brazil and had invested in it. These companies would have paid BRL 2.6 billion in licensing fees to the Brazilian government.
Illegal Market and Consumer Protection Concerns
ANJL also referred to the risks associated with the underground betting market. Data from the Instituto Esfera indicates that approximately 52% of the betting activity in Brazil occurs on the unregulated betting sites.
The sites do not offer any protection against excessive betting, allow minors to participate, and are connected to money-laundering operations associated with organized crime.
On the other hand, the regulated sites operate under strict state control and must adhere to responsible gaming principles.
According to official statistics released by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance for the year 2025, approximately 95% of the betting operations in Brazil involve individuals who gamble less than BRL 70 each month, with the average ticket being BRL 110, implying that the majority of the participants gamble at relatively moderate levels.
International Examples Highlight Risks of Excessive Restrictions
ANJL referred to the experiences of other countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, which had sought to impose strict restrictions on online gaming, which did not yield the expected results, such as the elimination of the underground betting market.
According to the association, these countries managed to effectively deal with the underground betting market only after eliminating the excessive restrictions and improving the regulated sites.
Call for Dialogue With Authorities
In its statement, ANJL reiterated its readiness to work with the federal government in improving the regulatory environment with technical data and expertise.
The organization noted that the main focus should be on eliminating the underground betting market instead of restricting the legal sites, which already operate under the set rules and regulations. “Regulatory setbacks are an incentive for clandestinity,” the association stated.
Source: iGaming Brasil
