Brazil Expands Betting Rules to Include Popular Esports Titles

This significant update marks a departure from the previous restriction that limited betting to games recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had largely excluded popular shooter games from the legal betting market.

The change was enacted through an ordinance published in a special edition of the Diário Oficial da União, Brazil’s official government gazette. It modifies the provisions of Law No. 14.790/2023, which governs Brazil’s legal betting framework. Under the revised rules, esports tournaments are now eligible for betting as long as they have proper licensing or authorisation from the respective game developers or intellectual property holders.

Previously, the regulatory landscape only supported betting on esports titles with IOC recognition, meaning Olympic-style disciplines such as chess, cycling, and motorsport were allowed, while widely followed titles in the global esports scene were left out. Although Fortnite was included in the 2023 Olympic Esports Week, it was featured in a target-shooting version, not its standard battle royale format. The latest update eliminates that distinction, acknowledging the legitimacy and popularity of mainstream esports titles among bettors.

This regulatory shift is part of the government’s broader effort to refine its betting market, which officially launched at the end of 2023. According to Brazil’s Central Bank, Brazilians spend between BRL 20 billion and BRL 30 billion (approximately USD 5.28 billion) per month on online betting. More than 100 operators are already licensed to operate within the country under the existing framework.

By embracing high-profile shooter games and expanding the list of eligible esports, the government aims to align its betting regulations with the evolving preferences of players and spectators. The move also reflects Brazil’s intent to position itself as a major hub for legal betting, with a system that better matches the diversity and scale of the modern gaming and esports industry.