Brazil Betting Irregularity Alerts Fall Sharply Following Reporting Changes
Direct reports to the SPA dropped significantly during the second quarter of 2026 following changes to how financial institutions share information.
Reports from financial institutions to Brazil’s Ministry of Finance concerning potential betting market irregularities fell sharply during the second quarter of 2026, although authorities say the decline reflects changes to reporting procedures rather than necessarily fewer suspected violations.
Figures obtained by payment provider Pay4Fun through Brazil’s Access to Information Law (LAI) show that direct notifications had previously been increasing, from 86 in January to 88 in February and 91 in March.
That number dropped to just 11 reports in April before falling further to nine during May.
The Ministry of Finance has attributed the reduction to legislative changes affecting how suspected irregularities are communicated to the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).
New Reporting System Behind Decline
Under Ordinance No. 566/2025, financial and payment institutions had been required to report potential betting market irregularities directly to the SPA.
These notifications could include suspected activity involving unauthorised betting operators or intermediaries, alongside atypical financial transactions.
However, Law No. 15,358/2026, which came into force in March, established a new information-sharing process connected to interoperable systems designed to prevent electronic fraud.
As a result, the SPA began receiving relevant information through the new system rather than exclusively through direct reports from financial and payment institutions.
The Ministry of Finance said this change explains the substantial reduction in direct notifications recorded during April and May.
SPA Revising Reporting Procedures
The government subsequently introduced Decree No. 13,033 on 19 June, reinforcing the SPA's authority to receive and analyse information concerning potential irregularities.
The regulator is now reviewing Ordinance No. 566/2025, with further rules expected to clarify how institutions should communicate suspected violations under the revised system.
“Until then, as stipulated in Ordinance No. 566/2025, financial and payment institutions directly forwarded information to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) regarding potential irregularities in the betting market—such as indications of activity by unauthorized operators or intermediaries, or atypical transactions,” the Ministry of Finance said.
“With the entry into force of Law No. 15.358/2026 in March of this year, a new information-sharing workflow was established, linked to the integration of institutions into interoperable systems for preventing electronic fraud.
“Consequently, the SPA began receiving information through this channel, which explains the reduction in direct communications observed in April and May 2026.”
The ministry added that the SPA is revising its existing ordinance and expects to publish new regulations detailing the procedures and communication channels to be used under the updated framework.
