Daniele Cardoso has been confirmed as the new Secretary of the Brazilian betting regulator, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), after media speculation earlier this year.
No official statement has been shared on the website of the SPA, a division of the Brazilian Ministry of Finance. However, the Minister of Finance, Dario Durigan, has confirmed it on X.
Writing on the social media platform yesterday, Durigan confirmed that Cardoso would be heading up the SPA under his oversight. Her confirmation comes at a crossroads moment for both Brazilian betting and the regulation of it.
Tenho a alegria de compartilhar novidades na equipe do Ministério da Fazenda. Rogério Ceron será o novo secretário-executivo. Confio na sua capacidade de entrega, e destaco que seu trabalho à frente do Tesouro foi fundamental para avançarmos com nossa agenda nos últimos anos.
— Dario Durigan (@DarioDurigan) March 23, 2026
Regis Dudana was previously Secretary of the SPA, holding the role from April 2024, overseeing the launch of the regulated betting market – known locally as ‘Bets’ – in January 2025 until being promoted to the role of Secretary of Economic Reforms in January this year.
A high-level reshuffle at the Ministry this month saw Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance, vacate the role to run for Governor of the state of Sao Paolo – a key objective for the governing Workers Party of Brazil (PT), headed up by President Lula da Silva.
Durigan was subsequently promoted to Minister of Finance earlier this month, replacing Haddad. He has now finally confirmed that Cardoso will hold the main regulatory reins for Brazil’s still developing betting industry.
Cardoso takes on the leadership role amid a fierce political debate around betting in Brazil, with several policymakers becoming increasingly confrontational towards the industry, including President Lula.
The President, who gave the 1 January 2025 launch of the Bets market the green light in late December 2024, has become much more critical of the regulated industry and its societal impact.
He has also been chasing after tax revenues from the sector, finally getting his wish with the approval of an increase in the tax rate on gross gaming revenue (GGR) from 12% to 18% by 2027.
Meanwhile, the local industry continues to fight an exhausting battle against the lingering grey and black markets in Brazil. The industry is now facing incoming taxes, political scrutiny around things like marketing, and the new dynamic of prediction markets.
Kalshi, one of the two biggest prediction platforms globally alongside Polymarket, recently set up shop in Brazil. However, it is still unclear which regulator will govern the platforms – the SPA or the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission.