Millions of Brazilians continue to use illegal betting platforms, according to Justice Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing regulators more than a year after the launch of Brazil’s regulated betting market.
The minister said an estimated 25.2 million people are still placing wagers through unauthorized operators despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
“We are talking about illegal betting representing something between 41% and 51% of the market operating legally. It is a significant number.
"We have already blocked more than 40 thousand websites. There are 25.2 million Brazilians betting on these platforms," declared the Minister of Justice.
According to Lima e Silva, the sector has become increasingly attractive to organized crime groups, making enforcement against unlicensed operators a priority for the Government.
Finance Minister Dario Durigan also revealed new details about the structure of Brazil’s illegal betting ecosystem, stating that just 350 individuals operating through 37 financial institutions were linked to more than 40,000 betting websites and applications that have already been blocked by regulators.
The announcement follows Operation Lucky Tale, launched by federal authorities targeting an alleged illegal betting network that investigators say may have moved billions of reais through unauthorized operators.
The figures underscore the challenge facing Brazilian regulators as they seek to steer consumers toward licensed operators while cutting off the financial and technological infrastructure supporting illegal platforms.
At the same time, authorities have increasingly expanded consumer protection initiatives alongside enforcement actions, with strategies focused on both restricting illegal supply and encouraging safer gambling practices within the regulated market.
Brazil’s responsible gambling strategy recently expanded through a WhatsApp awareness campaign promoting self-exclusion and support services
