Social aspects: gambling and regulation (Brazil)

1) Why the topic escalated in 2024-2025

In 2024-2025, online rates in Brazil became a mass phenomenon - and at the same time, worries over debts and addictions intensified. International and local media recorded an "explosive" increase in engagement and personal addiction stories; authorities responded by blocking irregular sites and launching full regulation from 01. 01. 2025.

2) Legal framework of protection: what is already in effect

• Advertising and marketing.
• Prohibition to focus advertising on minors and adolescents; banning sponsorship of children's teams and events for teenagers. Supervision is provided immediately.
• Prohibition of welcome bonuses and advance "gifts"; only incentives for already registered users are allowed, subject to the rules.
• In 2025, the Senate approved strict advertising restrictions (including a ban on videos during live broadcasts of matches and the participation of active athletes/influencers).

Payment perimeter and payment speed.

Portaria SPA/MF No. 615/2024 introduced a "white" payment loop (PIX/TED/debit/prepaid) and SLA payouts up to 120 minutes - this reduces the space for abuse and keeps money in a transparent channel.

Self-exclusion and restricted persons registry.

In the road map 2025-2026, the priority is the unified national register of self-exclusion and the base of "prohibited" (self-excluded, persons with a medical report on ludomania, athletes/officials, other prohibitions). The project was submitted for public discussion as part of Nats. rate systems (Sinapo).

Social protection of vulnerable groups.

In the fall of 2025, SPA/MF formalized a ban on the participation of recipients of social assistance (for example, Bolsa Família, BPC). Operators are required to check CPF with government databases and block/close such accounts with a refund.

Fighting illegal.

The authorities are massively blocking irregular sites and strengthening financial supervision; at the same time, activity in the licensed segment is growing (tens of millions of bets from authorized brands).

3) Scale of problematic gambling: what the data says

Survey and payment slices paint an alarming picture of the growth of household involvement and losses in 2023-2024, which prompted tight regulation in 2025.

IBJR/LCA (Locomotiva) studies show a significant proportion of players who have come into contact with illegal sites, and indicate sensitive fiscal losses from the "gray" segment - a factor directly related to consumer risks.

Why it matters to RG: Illegal sites fail to comply with limits, age barriers and responsible gambling rules. Sewerage of demand in the "white" segment with clear rules is the first layer of protection.

4) What changes for the player in the "white" segment

Age and admission: 18 +, verification according to CPF/documents, prohibition for certain categories (athletes, supervisory officials, etc.; social assistance recipients have now been added).

Self-restraint: national self-exclusion with cross-operator strength is expected to launch in 2025-2026; before launch - operating bans on the brand side.

Fair payouts and transparency: 120-minute payout rule, minimum operator liquidity reserves and risk management requirements.

Advertising "on adult" terms: without involving minors, without aggressive promises, without "advance gifts."

5) What else is being discussed (and where politics is heading)

Unified digital RG infrastructure. Sinapo is intended as a "data bus" for self-exclusion and status control; the project in the priorities of the regpovestka 2025-2026.

Additional advertising filters. Senate Initiatives 2025 restricts screening slots and ad "faces" (no active athletes/influencers).

Payment security. Against the backdrop of cyber incidents, the Central Bank is strengthening requirements for the financial sector; the general trend is to "sharpen" dubious providers and payment paths.

6) Practical recommendations

For players and families

Use only authorized SPA/MF sites/applications. Characteristics: CPF verification, "white" payment methods (PIX/TED/debit/prepaid), understandable RG rules.

Turn on time/deposit limits, plan a bankroll, monitor emotional triggers (dogon, lutchase).

At the first signs of problematic behavior - self-exclusion from the operator (and after launch - the national register) and contacting specialized support services.

For operators

Do not redefine the rules: prohibit the registration of recipients of social assistance and check CPF with state registries, close the identified accounts with a refund.

Remove welcome bonuses, rebuild offers to retain an adult audience and responsibility.

Build AML/KYC/behavioral monitoring processes, bring SLA 120 minutes to payments, keep the required financial cushion.

7) What counts as success of "harm minimization" policy

Sewerage to the licensed perimeter (an increase in the share of rates among authorized brands) in parallel with a decrease in the exposure of vulnerable groups are key KPIs. The state is already showing a combination of both trajectories: the growth of the "white" segment + illegal blocking.

Working self-exclusion at the national level, inter-operator limits and uniform signals about the problem game are the next milestone of 2026.

Brazil for 2024-2025. turned the "market without a perimeter" into a regime of strict protection rules: advertising - under filters, "welcome gifts" are prohibited, payments are standardized, illegal sites - under stripping, socially vulnerable - protected by a direct ban on participation, and national self-exclusion - on the agenda of the coming years. This does not negate the risks of gambling addiction, but the transfer of demand to the "white" zone and the RG infrastructure give a chance to really reduce harm - and measure the result not with emotions, but with indicators: the share of legal turnover, the number of self-exclusions and the reduction of calls on debt crises among players.

Relevant for October 11, 2025 (Europe/Kyiv).