Brazil’s SPA Tightens Regulations on Anti-Money Laundering Compliance for Betting Operators
This requirement applies to all betting companies operating in Brazil, whether directly authorised by the Ministry of Finance or operating under court rulings.
The Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) of Brazil has issued a directive requiring all licensed fixed-odds betting operators to submit comprehensive anti-money laundering and terrorist financing prevention (PLD/FT) policies.
This requirement applies to all betting companies operating in Brazil, whether directly authorised by the Ministry of Finance or operating under court rulings. Each operator must provide a detailed framework outlining the necessary measures and response strategies, aligning with Law No. 14,790/2023 and Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,143/2024.
To assist operators in meeting these obligations, the SPA hosted a webinar on 12 February, offering guidance on best practices for reporting suspicious transactions to the Financial Activities Control Council. The session provided a structured approach to identifying and reporting financial irregularities.
This latest move follows the SPA’s integration into the National Strategy to Combat Corruption and Money Laundering (Enccla) in November 2024. As part of this inter-institutional initiative—comprising representatives from Brazil’s Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches—the SPA aims to reinforce its efforts in tackling financial crime and strengthening industry regulation.
The announcement comes as Brazil’s regulated betting market continues to expand, with 21 new definitive licences recently granted, bringing the total number of fully licensed operators to 35. Overall, 69 operators now hold either provisional or definitive authorisation, reflecting the sector’s rapid growth. Early data from Brazil’s newly regulated online gaming market, has shown promising results, with 63.4 million daily visits to online betting and casino sites in Brazil.
