Brazil Blocks More Than 25,000 Illegal Betting Sites in 2025

Brazil’s federal authorities significantly stepped up action against unlicensed gambling activity in 2025, blocking more than 25,000 illegal betting websites as the country completed its first full year under a regulated sports betting framework.

Data published by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), under the Ministry of Finance, shows that enforcement efforts were carried out in close coordination with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), forming part of a broader crackdown on unauthorised operators across the digital ecosystem.

The regulatory push extended beyond website blocking, with authorities also targeting illicit advertising, suspicious financial transactions and compliance breaches, signalling a more comprehensive approach to market supervision.

Licensed market expands as oversight activity accelerates

During 2025, Brazil authorised 79 betting companies to operate legally, with operators reporting that around 25.2 million Brazilians placed bets throughout the year.

At the same time, monitoring activity intensified. The Undersecretary for Monitoring and Inspection initiated 132 administrative procedures involving 133 betting operations, with 80 cases still under review and potential sanctions pending.

Financial oversight also became a central pillar of enforcement. By year-end, 54 financial institutions had submitted 1,255 reports to the Secretariat concerning 1,687 individuals suspected of transferring funds to illegal betting platforms.

These investigations led to the closure of 550 bank accounts, with 265 confirmed as directly linked to unlawful activity.

Social media advertising under scrutiny

Brazilian authorities also focused on the role of digital marketing in promoting illegal gambling, particularly through social media channels.

Working alongside self-regulatory organisations and digital industry bodies, regulators concluded 412 inspection processes involving influencers. As a result, 324 influencer profiles were removed, along with 229 individual posts linked to unauthorised betting promotion.

Market data collected through the federal Bet Management System revealed that betting participation was dominated by men, who accounted for 68.3% of users. The most active demographic group was individuals aged 31 to 40 (28.6%), followed by bettors aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 30, both representing 22.7%.

Strong revenue figures highlight scale of regulated market

Financial results underline the rapid growth of Brazil’s regulated betting sector. Licensed operators generated an estimated R$37bn in gross gaming revenue during 2025.

Federal tax authorities reported total collections of approximately R$9.95bn, including corporate taxes and statutory contributions under betting legislation. Additional income included around R$2.5bn in authorisation fees and R$95.5m in inspection charges.

One of the year’s most notable regulatory milestones was the launch of a national self-exclusion system overseen by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting. Developed by the Federal Data Processing Service, the platform received more than 217,000 self-exclusion requests within its first 40 days of operation.

Regulatory focus shifts toward long-term market stability

As Brazil’s betting market continues to mature, regulators have signalled that enforcement and harm-prevention measures will remain a priority. The Ministry of Finance and SPA are expected to further strengthen safeguards around consumer protection, mental health and responsible gambling as the regulatory framework evolves.

The scale of the 2025 crackdown suggests that Brazil is positioning itself not only as one of the world’s largest emerging betting markets, but also as one of the most actively policed.