Brazil Adds Four More Operators to Approved Betting List

Brazil’s gambling market is evolving, with four new operators recently added to the list of approved betting companies. This adjustment comes during a critical transition period as Brazil gears up for its full legal market launch in January 2025. These changes aim to ensure a smooth transition while regulating the market effectively, providing a safer gambling environment. Explore how this latest update impacts the Brazilian betting landscape and what it means for operators and players alike.

Brazil Adds Four More Operators to Approved Betting List During Transition to Legal Market

The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) in Brazil has updated its list of approved betting operators, adding four companies that will be allowed to continue their operations during the ongoing transition period. This adjustment follows the enforcement of Normative Ordinance No 1,475, a regulatory framework that sets the stage for Brazil’s fully legalized gambling market, slated to launch on January 1, 2025.

Companies wishing to operate during this transitional phase had until 11:59 pm on September 30 to submit their federal license applications. The ordinance specified that only those businesses already active in the Brazilian market and who filed for a license could legally operate until the end of 2024. The SPA’s efforts to regulate the market are intended to lay the foundation for a secure and transparent gambling environment in Brazil.

The SPA initially published a list on October 1, announcing 89 operators who had made the cut. Given that each license application allows for three skins, this led to 193 brands being registered to remain active. However, the initial list had some discrepancies and errors, prompting several companies to seek clarity from the SPA regarding their exclusion.

After careful review and corrections, the SPA released an updated list, now featuring 93 operators and 205 brands. According to the SPA, three of the four newly added companies were initially left out due to technical errors in the notification system. The fourth company’s request was finally signed by an authorized legal representative, granting them approval.

Newly Added Operators and Their Brands

The four companies added to the approved list are as follows:

Notable Absences and Ongoing Issues

Despite the updates, some key operators remain conspicuously absent. Esportes da Sorte, one of the market’s major players, was left off the initial list, citing a formal error that they hoped the SPA would rectify. However, they are still not included, placing them at risk of being blocked by Brazil’s national telecom agency (Anatel) starting October 11. This exclusion gives their players a 10-day window to withdraw their funds.

Similarly, VaideBet, another significant brand, continues to be absent from the federal register. Both Esportes da Sorte and VaideBet have recently been implicated in an illegal betting and money laundering investigation, which may have influenced their exclusion. Caixa Loterias, the federal lottery monopoly operated by Caixa Econômica Federal, also remains off the list. Although they applied for a license before the August 20 deadline and intend to offer sports betting in Brazil, they will need to wait until January to start operations, pending license approval.

State-Licensed Betting Operators List Updated

In addition to the national list, the SPA has also updated its register of state-authorized licensees. Initially, the list included six companies, predominantly from the state of Paraná and one from Maranhão. However, after further communication with regulators from Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, and the addition of three more companies from Maranhão, the tally of state-licensed operators now stands at 18.

Interestingly, while VaideBet did not make it onto the federal list, it did secure a spot as a licensed operator in Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj). This status was further solidified when the Supreme Federal Court (STF) granted Loterj a preliminary injunction, allowing Loterj-licensed betting brands to continue operating outside of the federal ban on unlicensed operators.

The SPA’s recent update to the list of approved betting operators in Brazil is a crucial step in the country’s transition toward a fully regulated gambling market. By ensuring that only those companies who meet the regulatory requirements can operate, Brazil is setting a standard for transparency and integrity in its gambling industry. However, notable absences like Esportes da Sorte and VaideBet underscore the challenges in implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework. As Brazil moves toward its full market launch in January 2025, these adjustments highlight the country’s ongoing efforts to create a secure and player-focused betting environment.