Brazil gambling regulator invites states to discuss creation of “national betting system”
The SPA will hold a meeting at the ministry of finance’s headquarters in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, on Friday (4 April) to close the gap between state gambling legislation and the federal regulator, and formulate a combined strategy for betting in the country.
The SPA has invited each state to send a representative to the meeting, to discuss up to three topics relevant to the creation of a national betting system.
The regulator believes a national betting system in Brazil would improve cooperation between the federal and state governments by strengthening ties and improving the application of betting laws and regulations in Brazil’s newly regulated online betting market.
As outlined by the SPA, the national betting system would provide clarity on federal rules and discuss good practices and minimum standards for responsible gambling, as well as improved methods of countering money laundering and match-fixing.
SPA public consultation comes to an end
Last Thursday (27 March), the SPA closed its public consultation for industry feedback on its 2025-2026 regulatory agenda.
The SPA is expecting to publish its full agenda on Friday, with the establishment of a national betting system to feature as the eighth project on the list.
SPA leader Regis Dudena previously said regulation in Brazil should be in a state of constant assessment and improvement.
“We have created a framework of main rules which is quite complete and essential for the start of the regulated fixed-odds betting market, but regulation is a cycle; there are always points to be reviewed and improved,” Dudena said while announcing the public consultation in February.
“We are observing the practical effects of the rules we have created on a daily basis so that we can understand what needs to be improved.”
Could a national betting system smooth state/federal relations?
An ongoing sideshow to the launch of the legal online betting market in Brazil has been constant disputes between the federal government and state and municipal lotteries.
The most notable case has involved the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj), which received a huge blow last month as the Federal Supreme Court (STF) voted to uphold a decision restricting Loterj’s attempts to license operators nationwide.
The STF upheld minister André Mendonça’s preliminary decision from early January that restricted Loterj licensees to offering bets within Rio de Janeiro state borders, while also making geolocation tracking to ensure compliance mandatory.
This month, the Solidarity party called for lotteries at the municipal level to be suspended until the STF makes a final ruling on whether they breach Brazil’s constitution.
However, last week the STF decided not to halt municipal lottery operations, although the Solidarity party was asked to provide information to back up its claims.
Additionally, the attorney general’s office was asked to weigh in on the matter, ahead of the STF making a final ruling.