Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has launched administrative proceedings against Bet365, Betnacional and KTO over betting advertisements broadcast during World Cup matches on CazéTV, with potential penalties reaching BR2bn.
According to the Ministry, the adverts contained “clear violations” of Brazil’s betting advertising rules by creating a sense of urgency to place bets while displaying mandatory responsible gambling warnings in an illegible format.
Under Brazil’s betting legislation, licensed operators must clearly display age restrictions and warnings about the financial risks associated with gambling.
As an immediate precautionary measure, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) ordered the suspension of the advertisements identified as non-compliant. Unlike Brazil’s advertising self-regulator Conar, whose rulings are voluntary, the Ministry of Finance has statutory enforcement powers and can impose binding sanctions on licensed operators.
The SPA has formally notified the three operators, as well as CazéTV, requesting explanations within ten business days.
Under Brazil’s regulated betting framework, the SPA may impose fines of up to BR2bn and, in the most serious or repeated cases, suspend an operator’s licence.
Ministry data shows that during 2025, 132 inspection cases resulted in 80 sanctioning proceedings, although none have yet reached a final decision.
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR), whose members include the three operators under investigation, said it fully supports efforts to investigate any confirmed breaches of the law and reiterated its willingness to cooperate with authorities on improving betting regulation and consumer protection.
According to reports, the current proceedings remain in the inspection stage and could later become formal sanctioning actions depending on the operators’ responses.
Finance Minister Dario Durigan has confirmed that Brazil is preparing additional restrictions on betting advertising, with new measures expected to be announced in the coming days
