Brazil: Treasury, telecommunications agency Anatel partner to strengthen blocking of illegal gambling sites

The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA-MF) and the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) signed on Monday, December 9, a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) to accelerate and improve the blocking of fixed odds betting sites operating illegally in Brazil. Since the beginning of this action, on October 11, more than 5,200 irregular platforms have been taken offline.

According to the government, the initiative seeks to establish a fast and direct flow of information between agencies, reducing operating costs and strengthening the sector's control.

According to the president of Anatel, Carlos Baigorri, "the agreement will allow a smooth flow for the blocking process. We know that it is a difficult task to prevent Brazilians from accessing illegal gambling sites and, for this reason, cooperation is essential for blocking to be carried out in the shortest possible time by telecommunications service operators. We have the duty, as a State institution, to combat illicit practices that cause competitive imbalances and do not respect our legislation."

Regulatory challenges in the betting market

In 2024, strict rules were established for the legal operation of the industry, and, as of January 1, 2025, all authorized platforms will be required to use the '.bet.br' domain, which will facilitate their identification by users and increase the credibility of the market.

The ACT provides for the development of a detailed work plan to define operational procedures and improve the flow of communication between agencies, increasing the effectiveness of joint actions.

Blocking operation

The SPA is responsible for identifying and cataloging illegal websites and transmitting the blocking orders to Anatel. Anatel, in turn, forwards the orders to the Internet connection companies for execution. The process is completely digital, which officials say guarantees speed, security, and traceability.

Anatel uses specific methodologies to prioritize blockades based on access and connectivity infrastructure, while the SPA monitors implementation and reports on compliance with the measures.

Regis Dudena, Secretary of Awards and Gaming at the Ministry of Finance, highlighted the importance of the partnership: “Anatel has already been a very important partner since we stepped up our efforts in the fight against illegality. Now, with ACT, this relationship will be even more fluid and efficient, which is beneficial for the country in the challenge of eliminating the presence of opportunistic and malicious groups in the gambling industry."