Brazil’s federal gambling regulator calls state leaders to Brasília to discuss creation of national betting system

The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) will convene state representatives this Friday at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Brasília to begin shaping a national betting system that could align gambling regulations across Brazil’s fragmented legal sector.

The meeting, scheduled for April 4, hopes to bridge the regulatory divide between federal authorities and individual states as Brazil’s online betting market continues to take form under new national laws.

Each state has been asked to send a delegate to discuss up to three key issues related to the design and implementation of a centralized framework for managing gambling activity in the country.

According to the SPA, the proposed system would support regulatory consistency by clarifying federal rules and promoting standards for responsible gambling.

It would also serve as a mechanism to enhance collaboration on issues such as anti-money laundering protocols and the prevention of match-fixing, two areas where enforcement has become increasingly complex since the liberalization of online betting.

The initiative comes as the SPA finalizes its 2025–2026 regulatory agenda, following the close of a public consultation on March 27. The national betting system is set to be the eighth item in the upcoming regulatory plan, expected to be released the same day as the meeting. SPA head Regis Dudena has stated that the development of the sector will require continuous regulatory adaptation.

“We have created a framework of main rules which is quite complete and essential for the start of the regulated fixed-odds betting market, but regulation is a cycle; there are always points to be reviewed and improved,” Dudena said during the consultation announcement in February.

“We are observing the practical effects of the rules we have created on a daily basis so that we can understand what needs to be improved.”

While the federal regulator is seeking to unify oversight, disputes between levels of government continue to complicate Brazil’s gambling rollout. A major flashpoint has involved the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj), which had attempted to authorize operators to take bets across the country.

In a recent ruling, the Federal Supreme Court upheld a prior decision limiting Loterj’s licensing authority to within Rio state borders. The court also mandated geolocation tools to ensure compliance.

Tensions have also reached the municipal level. Earlier this month, the Solidarity party called for a suspension of all local lotteries until the Supreme Court determines whether their operations are constitutional. The court declined to impose an immediate freeze, instead asking the party to submit additional evidence. The attorney general’s office has also been asked to provide input ahead of a final judgment.