Brazil’s regulated betting sector has voiced support for the Federal Government’s decision to block prediction market platforms in the country, aligning itself with the latest enforcement push against unlicensed betting activity.
Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), described the measure as a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to the regulated market.
“The Federal Government is attentive to the illegal market and will do everything to protect the bettor. We received the announcement with great enthusiasm.”
According to Jorge, preventing the expansion of prediction platforms in Brazil was necessary to avoid broader risks to consumers. He pointed to concerns such as potential collusion between users, money laundering and the absence of regulatory oversight as key vulnerabilities in these models.
Legal specialists have also supported the move. Leandro Henrique Roscoe Bessa, a lawyer at Betlaw, said the decision provides a solid legal basis for enforcement actions, particularly against offshore platforms operating outside Brazil’s regulatory framework.
"From a legal and regulatory standpoint, this closes the gray area that allowed prediction market platforms to operate in Brazil under the pretext of a regulatory vacuum."
Before the introduction of Brazil’s regulated betting framework, operators in the country had offered wagers on a broader range of events, including elections and entertainment outcomes.
These practices were prohibited under the current law, which restricts betting to authorized formats such as fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games.
Industry group IBJR echoed these concerns, mentioning estimates that illegal betting sites move approximately BR40bn ($7.9bn) annually in Brazil and result in significant losses in public revenue.
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva has repeatedly signalled support for stricter measures, including the possibility of shutting down the industry altogether
