Licensed operators in Brazil are calling on the Federal Government to strengthen oversight of suppliers that provide casino games to illegal gambling platforms, arguing that enforcement efforts should extend beyond operators themselves.
The debate centres on popular online casino titles such as Fortune Tiger, widely known in Brazil as “Jogo do Tigrinho,” which has become one of the country’s most recognizable gambling products due to its association to illegal betting promotion.
Industry representatives argue that illegal operators continue to access games, payment systems and technology providers while operating outside Brazil’s regulatory framework.
Currently, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) focuses its enforcement efforts primarily on licensed and unlicensed operators. Meanwhile, the Central Bank has increased scrutiny of payment institutions serving illegal gambling businesses.
According to recent data, online casino products account for approximately 60% of revenue generated by Brazil’s regulated betting sector. Among illegal operators, that figure rises to 72% of a market estimated to have generated BR14bn ($2.7bn) in 2025.
For regulated operators, however, the discussion should also include the role of suppliers serving illegal platforms.
"It makes no sense for the Government to go after only the operators, demanding compliance with strict rules from those who are legalized, while the game provider irresponsibly serves the black market," said André Guelfi, President of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) and CEO of Betsson Brazil.
The Ministry of Finance is expected to publish supplier regulations later this year. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for June 25.
Ok, but is “jogo do tigrinho” legal in Brazil?
While Fortune Tiger has become the public face of Brazil’s online gambling debate, it’s important to remember the game itself is permitted under current legislation when offered by licensed operators.
Under Law 14.790/2023 and SPA regulations, online casino games such as Fortune Tiger can be legally offered by operators authorised by the Ministry of Finance or by licensed state lottery concessionaires. Industry representatives argue that the main challenge is not the game itself, but its widespread availability through unlicensed platforms operating outside Brazil’s regulated market.
The Ministry of Finance says it has blocked more than 45,000 illegal betting websites in partnership with Brazil’s telecommunications regulator Anatel
