The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) has welcomed Apple’s decision to allow licensed betting operators to distribute apps through the Brazilian App Store, describing the measure as an important step towards strengthening the country’s regulated online gambling market.
In a statement posted in local media outlets, the institute said the move reinforces transparency and consumer protection by allowing bettors to more clearly identify operators authorized by Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting.
The change follows Apple’s recent update to its App Store policies in Brazil, which now allow apps of fixed-odds betting products to operate legally, as long as they present a valid federal licence during the app review process.
According to IBJR, the measure also acts as a cybersecurity filter by limiting distribution to regulated operators and reducing exposure to illegal platforms. The institute noted that only companies licensed by the SPA are permitted to offer betting services through Apple’s ecosystem.
The organization also pointed to the importance of continuous enforcement, warning that illegal betting applications can still be found on major digital marketplaces despite the tighter rules.
IBJR further argued that app store availability strengthens responsible gambling practices by integrating features required under Brazilian regulation, including age verification controls, gambling risk warnings and self-exclusion mechanisms.
The institute also cited data estimating that Brazil’s illegal gambling market moves approximately BR40bn ($8bn) annually while generating an estimated BR10.8bn in lost tax revenue.
Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security recently notified both Apple and Google after identifying more than 120 betting apps operating without federal authorization on their platforms.
IBJR has previously criticised proposals to ban betting advertising in Brazil, arguing that excessive restrictions could push consumers towards unregulated operators
