The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) has publicly backed the creation of Base Apostas, the Federal Police’s new specialist unit focused on match-fixing, betting fraud and related financial crimes.
In a statement, the institute described the initiative as “a decisive advance” for the development of a “responsible, sustainable and integrity-driven” online betting market in Brazil.
Base Apostas was recently established under the Federal Police’s General Coordination for the Repression of Corruption, Financial Crimes and Money Laundering, placing betting-related investigations within the country’s wider organized crime enforcement structure.
Its responsibilities include investigating fixed-odds betting fraud, sports manipulation schemes, private corruption, money laundering and asset recovery.
According to IBJR, regulated operators already rely on international monitoring systems and integrity technology to detect suspicious betting patterns and report them to authorities.
The institute specifically referenced monitoring systems operated by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), stating that licensed operators have a direct interest in combating criminal activity tied to the sector.
At the same time, the organization argued that Brazil’s biggest public security challenge remains the illegal betting market. IBJR stated that unlicensed operators currently move approximately BR40bn ($8bn) annually outside the regulated system, generating estimated public revenue losses of BR10.8bn per year.
The institute also claimed that illegal platforms frequently operate without facial recognition systems or consumer safeguards and are often linked to money laundering and organized crime structures.
“The regulated betting market is the one most interested in combating organized crime,” IBJR stated.
The organization added that it will continue cooperating with public authorities, sports entities and international organizations to strengthen betting integrity and consumer protection in Brazil’s regulated market.
IBJR recently welcomed Apple’s decision to allow licensed betting operators to distribute apps through the Brazilian App Store
