Brazil Renews Digital Alliance to Crack Down on Illegal Betting Promotion

The country’s betting authority, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) within the Ministry of Finance, has renewed its partnership with the Digital Council of Brazil until 30 June 2026. The agreement, first launched in July last year, is designed to improve enforcement against irregular advertising and unlicensed fixed-odds betting operators, a persistent issue as Brazil moves toward a more tightly regulated gambling framework.

Under the arrangement, the SPA and the Digital Council have established faster and more structured channels for sharing information, allowing regulators to notify platforms more efficiently when illegal or non-compliant betting content is detected. The Digital Council represents several major technology companies operating in Brazil, including Google, Meta, Uber, TikTok, Kwai and Hotmart.

According to figures released by the Council, more than 5,000 pieces of betting-related content have been removed from digital platforms following notifications from the SPA’s enforcement team. These removals include advertisements, influencer-led promotions and sponsored content that breached Brazilian gambling rules or were linked to operators without proper authorization. Authorities say the faster response times achieved through the partnership have significantly reduced the visibility of illegal betting offers online.

The cooperation also places strong emphasis on protecting children and adolescents from gambling-related exposure. Measures include tighter age-verification systems, enhanced algorithmic moderation and educational campaigns aimed at parents and young users. The Digital Council has already rolled out its “Caring Network” initiative focused on healthy technology use among minors, with a dedicated responsible gambling campaign planned as the next step.

In parallel, participating platforms have updated internal advertising standards, with several now requiring betting advertisers to demonstrate they are licensed and approved by the SPA before campaigns can go live. SPA secretary Regis Dudena said the agreement has delivered “many positive results” and remains essential for consumer protection and market integrity. Digital Council chief executive Felipe França added that the renewal reflects the growing role of public-private cooperation in addressing online harms.

The extension comes as the SPA continues to introduce additional regulatory tools, including stricter self-exclusion mechanisms for bettors, while acknowledging ongoing discussions about the limits of technology in fully eliminating illegal gambling operators from the digital ecosystem.