Fernando Vieira has officially stepped down from his role as Executive President of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) after an 11-month tenure.
André Gelfi, the organisation's current Director and Advisor, will serve as interim president while the search for Vieira's successor is underway.
During his time at IBJR, Vieira played a key role in guiding the organisation through Brazil's gambling regulation process. He contributed to the development of the association's responsible gaming manifesto, participated in public debates, and supported efforts to combat the country's black market.
Regarding this issue, the IBJR had warned, in August, that illegal sports betting in Brazil generates around BR35bn ($7bn) per year and provides no consumer protection.
Reflecting on his tenure, Vieira said: "It was an honour to lead the IBJR at this historic regulatory milestone. Our fight to consolidate the market for betting operations licensed by the Federal Government and to combat illegal gambling was intense and yielded important achievements. I am proud of the role we played in protecting consumers and strengthening the industry's credibility. I remain confident that the entity will continue to advance this mission."
This announcement follows other developments in the Brazilian gambling sector, including a recent agreement between the national regulator SPA and the National Advertising Self-Regulation Council (Conar) to jointly oversee gambling advertising campaigns.
Despite being one of the world's largest and most promising markets, Brazil continues to navigate challenges as it develops a mature and well-regulated gambling industry.
{QUOTE}} I am proud of the role we played in protecting consumers and strengthening the industry's credibility{{/QUOTE}
The IBJR recently highlighted that the expanding illegal betting sector posed the greatest challenge, resulting in significant revenue losses
