Brazil betting sector roundup: government bans prediction markets, integrity reforms advance, ad debate grows

Brazil’s betting and gaming industry experienced another decisive week as regulators, courts, and private operators moved on multiple fronts, reinforcing the country’s rapid transition into one of the most closely watched regulated markets in the global iGaming sector.

From the prohibition of prediction market platforms to new anti-match-fixing measures, advertising debates, consumer protection campaigns, and a high-profile court ruling involving the Aviator brand, the developments reflect a market entering a more mature and strategic phase.

Government bans prediction markets nationwide

The Brazilian federal government officially announced a nationwide ban on prediction market platforms, classifying them as illegal betting operations under national law.

Authorities stated that websites allowing users to wager on elections, political events, economic outcomes, sports results, or personal situations do not fall within the forms of betting authorized in Brazil’s regulated framework.

The measure was accompanied by an official public awareness video released by the federal government, alongside Instagram posts warning that prediction market platforms would be treated as illegal betting operations.

According to officials, these platforms attempted to position themselves as financial or forecasting products, while carrying risks comparable to traditional gambling.

Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the objective is to “prevent the consolidation of a new betting market known as the prediction market.”

He added that the segment had begun presenting itself as a financial tool, but involved “potentials very similar to the destructive effects of gambling.”

The government also highlighted risks such as indebtedness, result manipulation, and ethical concerns linked to markets involving dismissals, political decisions, death predictions, or weather speculation.

As part of enforcement actions, officials reported the blocking of:

• 28 companies
• More than 39,000 websites
• 203 mobile applications
• 1,665 notifications issued
• 697 suspicious accounts shut down

Authorities described the measure as a victory for consumer protection and a broader effort to safeguard household finances and public wellbeing.

Brazil joins Macolin Convention and launches integrity ecosystem

At the same time, Brazil strengthened its sports integrity framework during the II National Technical Meeting on Combating Match-Fixing, held in Brasília.

During the event, the government confirmed Brazil’s formal accession to the Macolin Convention, becoming the first country outside Europe to join the international treaty focused on preventing manipulation of sports competitions.

The announcement was accompanied by the publication of Inter-ministerial Ordinance MESP/MF/MJSP No. 1/2026, which establishes governance guidelines and coordinated action between the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice in matters related to betting integrity and match-fixing prevention.

National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport Giovanni Rocco said:

“Today, sport in Brazil is better protected. We started practically from zero and, in a short time, placed the theme at the center of the national debate.”

A major operational highlight was the unveiling of the Suspicious Betting Analysis System, developed by the Federal Police.

The platform allows authorities to cross-reference betting market data with investigative databases in order to detect suspicious activity and organized fraud patterns.

Federal Police Director-General Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues said integrated action between institutions was essential to improving enforcement effectiveness.

The meeting also included educational initiatives for athletes and youth categories, supported by private sector stakeholders and integrity specialists.

UNODC representative Elena Abbati described Brazil’s recent progress as an example of international best practice.

Regulator and operators warn against advertising blackout

Another major topic during the week was advertising policy.

At a Public Policy Forum organized by IAB Brazil in Brasília, officials from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) and market participants argued that excessive advertising restrictions could unintentionally strengthen illegal operators.

Renato Pucci, General Coordinator of Betting Oversight at the SPA, said: “The worst path is to restrict advertising because that puts legal and illegal operators in the same bucket.”

Industry executives supported the view, warning that if licensed brands lose visibility, consumers may struggle to distinguish regulated operators from offshore or unauthorized platforms.

Some executives described the scenario as a “referential blackout,” where users continue searching for betting products but without clear guidance toward legal and compliant options.

The discussion signals that Brazilian authorities may pursue a more balanced regulatory model than certain European jurisdictions that have adopted blanket advertising bans.

Betsul promotes Responsible Gaming on Avenida Paulista

On the consumer engagement side, operator Betsul launched a street campaign in São Paulo focused on Responsible Gaming awareness.

The activation took place on Avenida Paulista and featured influencer and athlete Kleber Bambam, who participated as the brand ambassador.

The company created a “human casino” experience in which three participants acted as live slot reels inside booths while passersby interacted with the game.

If all three revealed matching symbols simultaneously, the participant received a prize.

Mateus Rosa, Marketing Manager at Betsul, said the objective was to move the Responsible Gaming conversation beyond digital environments and into real public interaction.

“We transformed the traditional casino mechanic into something human and unpredictable, precisely to show that gaming should be approached with balance,” he said.

Court backs Aviator Studio in dispute with Spribe

Brazil’s judiciary also delivered an important ruling for the sector.

The São Paulo Court of Justice rejected requests by Spribe to suspend Aviator Studio Brazil’s operations and remove the Aviator game from the market while litigation continues.

The 2nd Reserved Chamber of Business Law upheld the first-instance decision, concluding that there was no immediate risk justifying emergency suspension measures.

The court also noted that ownership of the Aviator trademark remains disputed in Brazil and abroad.

According to case documents, the game has operated commercially in Brazil for years through a licensing agreement with Aviator LLC.

The ruling additionally stated that any eventual financial damages claimed by the plaintiff could be compensated later, reducing the need for urgent intervention.

The case forms part of a wider international dispute over rights linked to the Aviator brand.

George Pruidze, CEO of Aviator Studio, said: “Aviator Studio Brazil remains fully committed to supporting its partners and defending the AVIATOR brand whenever necessary.”

With first and second instance rulings now in place, the game remains available in Brazil while the merits of the dispute continue through the courts.

Market entering strategic phase

Taken together, the week’s developments show Brazil moving simultaneously on several critical fronts: regulatory enforcement, sports integrity, advertising policy, consumer education, and commercial legal certainty.

For international operators, suppliers, and investors, the message is increasingly clear: Brazil is no longer simply an emerging opportunity — it is becoming one of the most strategically structured betting markets in the world.