The list of responsibilities for a gambling regulator is ever-growing. Not only do they need to monitor the regulated market of whatever industry they oversee, they need to constantly evolve with the pressures of the black market, too.
Some regulators publish endless warnings to bad actors, but do not push the boat too far out. Others do not even touch the metaphorical boat and simply post into the ether, saying: “Try not to do any illegal activities while under our licence, please!”
Every now and again, however, regulatory action will be taken in such a way that it feels impossible to deny its forethought and intention.
Over the past few weeks, different authorities across LatAm have tackled a handful of different issues...
How is Brazil tackling debt?
Earlier this month, a partnership was formed between Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) and the University of Brasília (UnB). The three created a free online course to educate the public on the relationship between betting, financial management and debt.
The three-hour programme titled “Consumer Rights Of Bettors And Betting Sites: Beyond The Game” is split into five modules, covering topics such as the basics of betting, how consumer rights are lost in the black market, responsible gambling practices and the financial and psychological risks associated with betting behaviour.
The course is designed to be as accessible to as many people as possible, in the hopes that the free online modules will strengthen financial literacy among users. There is even a digital certificate available at the end.
Over the past few months, Brazilian media has been pointing to gambling as being the cause of growing household debt. Not only does a course like this directly help anyone who is experiencing gambling-related financial harm, but it also demonstrates that the regulator is monitoring public discourse around the industry and responding to specific criticism before it can gain traction.
What is Argentina doing about gambling influencers?
As part of the increased attention on Latin American gambling caused by Brazil's regulation, influencers began peddling black-market casinos through sponsorship deals – and these quickly gained international infamy.
In response to this, Lotería de la Ciudad, the Buenos Aires City Lottery, has begun holding courses to warn influencers about the dangers of promoting illegal gambling websites. So far, these courses have been attended by more than 40 influencers and public figures.
During these courses, members of the City Lottery explain why illegal gambling sites are so harmful, the risk of exposing children to harmful behaviours and why promoting responsible gambling to a large audience is so important.
However, this has drawn some ire from figures in Argentina. While it is a targeted response from a regulator that is addressing a current issue in the industry, some are questioning just how effective these courses are.
Perhaps a more effective approach from the regulator is its current participation in Dialogando BA, where members from the City Lottery meet with residents from neighborhoods to explain the dangers of problem gambling and the assistance available through responsible gambling measures. Is the regulator just letting influencers off lightly here?
Although the strength of these initiatives has been questioned by some, there is clearly a targeted approach here
How is Colombia tackling illegal casinos?
Illegal land-based operations are a little harder to hide (and continuously replicate) than their online counterparts, but that does not stop people from trying. However, one operation was not covert enough, and Coljuegos, the Colombian Gambling Authority, brought in the Military Police Battalion No. 2 of the National Army to help seize 293 illegal gambling items as part of a recent raid in the city of Barranquilla.
More than 157 slot machines were seized, along with internet betting modules and roulette wheels. One week later, another 83 slot machines were taken from another illegal operation. All of these will be destroyed by Coljuegos to prevent them from returning to the streets.
As for how effective this is, it seems pretty straightforward. The machines are destroyed so they cannot be used again, the establishments are closed and by bringing in the National Army, Coljuegos is sending a message that this sort of infraction will be dealt with as seriously as any other threat to national security.
How are South American regulators approaching problems differently from the rest of the world?
Rather than making blanket statements about the black market, risks to public safety or repeating the same warnings to the same operators without any further action over and over again, it feels like the regulatory action in South America is targeting specific problems facing communities.
Although the strength of these initiatives has been questioned by some, there is clearly a targeted approach here.
However, as threats to the industry continue to evolve and change, it will be revealing to see whether the approach from these regulators continues to be so direct. Hopefully, momentum does fade into a generic approach we have seen all-too-often in other jurisdictions.
Online gambling was regulated in Brazil in 2025; Argentina passed its legislation in 2019; and Colombia has been operating legal online gambling since 2016
