Online casinos in Brazil

Brazil is South America's largest country and one of the fastest growing gambling markets in the world. Despite a long ban on casinos and other forms of gambling, in recent years the country has been actively moving towards the legalization and regulation of online gambling, primarily sports betting. The growing interest of the population, large investments and political support make Brazil the new center of the iGaming industry in Latin America.

Historical context and legislation

Gambling in Brazil was banned in 1946 by decree of President Eurico Gaspar Dutra, which eliminated all casinos and playhouses in the country. Since then, only state lotteries and horse racing have been allowed in the country.

However, the situation began to change after the adoption of Law No. 13. 756/2018, which legalized fixed sports betting (apostas de quota fixa). This law was the first step towards creating a regulated online gambling market.

In 2023-2024, the government of President Lula da Silva approved a new regulation for licensing online operators, including casinos, bets and lotteries.

Control of the industry is carried out by the Ministry of Finance (Ministério da Fazenda) through the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) division.

Main provisions of the legislation:

online sports betting and eSports allowed;
licenses are issued to both local and foreign operators;
taxes for operators - 12% of gross income (GGR);
operators are required to have a legal presence in Brazil and provide protection for players.

The full legalisation of online casinos and virtual games is in the final stages of parliamentary approval.

Online gambling and licensing

Since 2024, licensing of online gambling in Brazil has become officially possible.

To obtain a license, the operator must:

register a company in Brazil;
pay the fee (about R $30 million, equivalent to ≈ 6 million USD);
comply with technical safety standards;
have a certified RNG system and payment control.

Licenses are valid for 5 years with the possibility of renewal. The Ministry of Finance plans to issue about 150 licenses in the first stage, which will attract the world's largest brands.

Major operators and brands

The Brazilian market attracts many international and local operators.

Among the most popular brands:

Betano, Pixbet, Parimatch, Bet365, Betway, Betano, 1xBet, Sportingbet, EstrelaBet - legal or offshore platforms with support for the Portuguese language;
Stake, BC. Game, Fairspin, BetFury, Bitcasino. io - cryptocasinos accepting deposits in Bitcoin and USDT;
Betnacional and Esportes da Sorte are local Brazilian brands with a wide audience.

Many operators sponsor football clubs such as Flamengo, Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, São Paulo FC, actively promoting the brand through sports.

Popular games and destinations

Brazilians are showing a vivid interest in gambling, especially mobile.

The most popular are:

slots and slot machines including Megaways and jackpots;
live-casino (roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker);
sports betting - primarily football, volleyball, UFC and Formula 1;
virtual games and esports;
lotteries and crash games such as Aviator and JetX, which gained huge popularity in 2023.

More than 80% of players use smartphones, making mobile gambling the dominant access channel.

Payment systems and currencies

Brazil has one of the most advanced digital payment systems in the world.

The main payment methods in online casinos are:

PIX - instant transfers through the state system used by almost all operators;
Visa and MasterCard bank cards;
e-wallets MercadoPago, Pay4Fun, PicPay;
AstroPay и MuchBetter;
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin) are especially popular among cryptocasino players.

The use of PIX has significantly accelerated the growth of online gambling - deposits are processed in seconds, without fees or restrictions.

Economic importance

Analysts estimate Brazil's gambling market could reach $15-20 billion by 2026.

This will ensure:

creating tens of thousands of jobs;
attracting foreign investment in IT and sports;
increase in tax revenues to the budget;
development of the domestic fintech sector.

Online gambling is becoming a new economic industry capable of making a significant contribution to the development of the national economy.

Challenges and challenges

Despite the rapid growth, the market faces a number of difficulties:

fighting illegal operators without licenses;
the need to regulate cryptocasino;
protecting underage and dependent players;
ensuring the honesty and transparency of payments.

The government is actively introducing measures for AML control and mandatory certification of all operators.

Development prospects

Brazil is well on its way to becoming the leader in online gambling in Latin America.

In the coming years, the following are expected:

complete legalization of online casinos;
introduction of a national SPA license with international recognition;
development of the crypto platform and Web3 gambling market;
strengthening Brazil's position as the center of iGaming investment.

Thanks to its huge audience, high level of digitalization and open economy, Brazil is turning into a new world capital of online gambling, where innovation, legality and mass user engagement are combined.