Online Gambling in Brazil: How to Legally Start Your Business (2025 Guide)
Written by admin on September 1, 2025
It took almost seven years to get online gambling in Brazil over the line. Surely, the journey of legalising Brazilian betting has been anything but smooth. Having overcome delays due to shifting priorities and political uncertainty, the regulated online market finally went live on 1 January 2025. It essentially opened the door to an industry that many betting companies are interested in.
International betting operators appear to have a massive interest in Latin America’s largest regulated betting economy. The pace of growth in licensed operators has been remarkable:
- January 2025: 14 operators
- February 2025: 35 operators
- August 2025: 78 operators
The large sports fan base in Brazil and high internet penetration rates give rise to a fertile environment for new entrants. If you want to start a betting business in Brazil, but are new to the market, here’s a detailed beginner’s guide on how to properly set up a Brazilian gambling business.
Key Points:
- Online gambling in Brazil was legalised on 1 January 2025 after much delay since the green light in 2023.
- To successfully start a gambling business, you will need to secure a federal licence that costs BRL30 million.
- The licence allows a five-year operating period and up to three brands.
- Pay attention to the ongoing debate on the potential tax hike on GGR.
Applying for a Betting Licence: What Law No. 14.790/2023 Means for You
The government has officially set the rules for its sports betting and online gaming industry. Operating as a department within the Ministry of Finance, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) is responsible for regulating the legal online betting market in Brazil.
Not only does The SPA award federal online betting licences, but it also plays a central role in the implementation and enforcement of Law No. 14.790/2023.
Law No. 14.790/2023 is pivotal in the development of Brazil’s gambling landscape. As the legal basis for regulation, it outlines how to apply for a Brazilian igaming licence.
In order to apply for the licence, you must establish your company in Brazil with at least 20% Brazilian capital and undergo a rigorous technical certification process for your betting systems. There will also be ongoing audits to maintain compliance.
The application fee for a federal betting licence in Brazil is BRL30 million. It lasts for five years and allows for up to three brands. After getting your licence, you must implement the below:
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
- Strict Know Your Customer (KYC)
- Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF)
- Exclusively ‘.bet.br’ domains
- Restricting payments to electronic transfers
- Prohibiting credit cards and cryptocurrency
Online Gambling Licences & Certifications in Brazil
There are currently three types of online gambling licences available in Brazil. You may also need certain certifications to obtain a licence.
1. Federal Licence
As discussed above, this is the primary licence issued by the SPA. The five-year licence allows operators to run up to three “skins” or brands. International betting brands such as Bet365, Betfair and Betana have all secured this licence early to take on the market. All licence applications are to be submitted via the SIGAP portal to the SPA.
2. Provisional Licence
The SPA also grants provisional licences to companies that have paid the BRL30 million (£3.9 million/€4.7 million/$4.8 million) licence fee, but are facing delays with their technical certifications or other application issues. These licences typically last for 30 days. Further extension is available if the said companies require additional time to complete the full application.
3. State or Municipal Licence
Some state lotteries, such as the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj), and certain municipalities like Bodó have also issued their licences. They are essentially cheaper than the federal licence issued by the SPA. Therefore, the final cost of a licence depends on the scope of your business.
Betting operators must undergo strict certification processes to apply for and maintain the federal licence. To name a few:
- Technical certifications for betting systems and servers, such as ISO-27001
- Payment systems that meet Sicoaf/bacen standards according to Portaria SPA/MF 1.143/2024
- Certifications issued by third-party certifying entities such as Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and Gaming Associates Labs (GA Lab)
Brazilian Online Sports Betting Licensure
Unlike some emerging markets, Brazil allows a full suite of wagering products. Therefore, you don’t need separate licences for sports betting and online casino operations.
Instead, a single federal licence covers both fixed-odds sports betting (apostas de quota fixa) and online casino games. It also covers games such as slots and crash games.
Key Dates & Deadlines for Brazilian iGaming Licence Applications
The official launch date of the legal market was 1 January 2025. The initial application window for the first batch of federal licences opened in May and closed on 20 August 2024. The 90-day window of preference after the release of Ordinance 827 allowed applications to be prioritised and proceed before the market went live on 1 January 2025.
If you apply after the August deadline, expect the process to take up to 180 days. The SPA usually replies within 150 days of submission through SIGAP. Once you get approval, you’ll have 30 days to pay the BRL 30 million concession fee.
Another key deadline to remember is that if you are granted a provisional licence, you will have 30 days to submit your required documents to the SPA.
You can apply through SIGAP whenever you like, but it’s important to plan ahead with the timeline above.
Brazilian Gambling Regulators: SPA vs LOTERJ
Established by Law No. 14.790/2023 in December 2023, The SPA serves as Brazil’s federal gambling regulator. Also known as “Lei das Apostas” or “Betting Law”, the law regulates the igaming market nationwide, including both fixed-odds betting, virtual casino-style games and lottery.
LOTERJ, on the other hand, is a state-level licensing entity whose mandate was historically limited to state lotteries. On 2 January 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) barred Loterj-licensed brands from operating beyond Rio de Janeiro’s borders. It was a setback for certain operators, especially when it costs less at BRL5 million than the federal licence for the same timespan.
How Much Does a Gambling Licence Cost in Brazil?
It costs BRL 30 million for a five-year license to start your operation in Brazil. After that, operators face a 12% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) plus a 34% corporate tax on profits, along with other contributions. All in, once you add GGR tax, corporate tax, social contributions, and municipal levies, the total tax burden can climb to nearly 50%.
Comparing Brazil’s Gambling Licences: Which One Is the Most Affordable?
| Category | Federal (SPA) | State (LOTERJ) |
| Licence Fee | BRL30 million | BRL5 million |
| Licence Term | 5-year term | 5-year term |
| Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) Tax | Currently 12% of GGR. Proposed to increase to 18% of GGR via a provisional measure. The Congress has up to 120 days to vote on making this permanent. | 5% of GGR |
| Corporate Taxes & Contributions | Around 34% of profits (25% Corporate Income Tax, 9% Social Contribution). Additional 9.25% PIS/Cofins tax and up to 5% municipal taxes. | Generally less restrictive regulations and compliance costs compared to federal |
| Overall Tax Burden (Estimated) | Nearing 50% when all taxes (GGR, corporate, social contributions, municipal, and potential consumption tax) are combined. | Significantly lower than federal, though specific overall percentage not provided. |
Tips to Start an Online Betting Business in Brazil as a Foreign Operator
- Engage experienced local counsel to help set up the legal entity and register with federal and state tax authorities.
- Partner with approved certifiers and auditors who know SPA–SIGAP procedures and already have blueprint dossiers.
- Build responsible gaming and self-exclusion modules in Portuguese, and translate all customer-facing content and terms.
- Set up Pix-only receivables infrastructure and align legal contracts with local regulators’ fee and remittance frameworks.
- Hire Brazilian AML/KYC vendors for CPF/IP validation, PEP screening, and local geolocation services.
- Acquire .bet.br domain and geolocation stack early, to avoid IP/block scrutiny and show compliance.
What Legalising the Online Gambling Market Means for Brazil
Brazil’s online gambling market has eventually entered a new era after a while. iGB has partnered with OKTO to publish a new strategic market report, A New Era in Brazil, examining this pivotal moment for the country’s betting and gaming sector.
Arthur Silva, CEO of Alfa Entertainment: “We need to make this sector something we can be proud of.”
The legalisation of online gambling in Brazil on 1 January 2025 marks a transformative moment for the nation’s betting industry, with online revenues projected at $1.4 billion and total betting and iGaming GGR at $5.6 billion in 2025.
Political opposition and public scrutiny remain intense on the legalisation. Some might argue that this brings significant social and economic benefits to the country.
Antonio Forjaz, Entain: “The most important part is that we are now in a legalised and regulated market, which will ultimately benefit the customer and the whole industry.”
The legalisation attracted substantial investments, such as Flutter’s acquisition of NSX Group (operator of Betnacional) for $350 million. It would also foster a safer environment for bettors by combating the black market.
Online Gambling Licence FAQs
What are the financial requirements for obtaining a gambling licence in Brazil?+–
To obtain a federal licence in Brazil, a gambling business must pay a significant BRL30 million licensing fee for a five-year operating period and up to three brands. In addition to this, operators must also establish a financial reserve of at least BRL5,000,000. The reserve must be held in federal public securities registered in the Selic system.
How to submit a licence application?+–
Interested operators must submit all online betting licence applications to the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) via the Betting Management System (SIGAP).
What is the current Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax in Brazil?+–
The current GGR tax rate is 12%. However, there’s a provisional measure to increase the rate to 18%, which is to be determined in October 2025.
Is online gambling legal in Brazil?+–
Yes, online gambling is now legal in Brazil, having officially launched as a regulated market on 1 January 2025. It has ended approximately 80 years of gambling prohibition in the country.
Are foreign betting operators allowed to operate in Brazil?+–
Yes, foreign entities are permitted to operate in Brazil if they adhere to the regulatory framework. Foreign companies must establish a company in Brazil with at least 20% of its capital held by a Brazilian individual to obtain a federal license.
