Sports betting was authorized by Law No. 13,756/2018, but the sector only became officially regulated in 2025. The Ministry of Finance considers this measure strategic both for organizing the market and for increasing tax revenue. Furthermore, experts believe that formalizing the rules has led more Brazilians to declare their betting practices, reducing stigma and increasing exposure to the industry’s effects.

The growth in the number of bettors has also had financial repercussions. The PoderData survey reveals that the debt rate among digital platform players more than doubled in 11 months, rising from 16% in October 2024 to 35% in September 2025. Although 51% of respondents claim to have no betting-related debt, this data raises an alarm about the social impacts of the sector, reinforcing the importance of the protective measures created by the government.

The survey also revealed how different profiles behave when it comes to betting. Among those who have already gambled, 51% said they had not incurred debt, while 35% said they had, and 14% preferred not to answer. Demographic stratification indicates that the habit is more common among men (43%), people with up to elementary school education (42%), and voters with incomes of up to two minimum wages (40%).

Despite the sector’s growth, the government is seeking to mitigate potential risks. An action plan was created to protect gamblers, which includes mental health programs, self-exclusion mechanisms—allowing users to block all accounts on authorized sites—and restrictions on participation by Bolsa Família and BPC (Continuous Cash Benefit) beneficiaries.

The survey was conducted by PoderData, a company of the Poder360 Jornalismo group, using its own resources. Data were collected from September 27 to 29, 2025, through calls to cell phones and landlines. 2,500 interviews were conducted in 178 municipalities across the 27 states of the Brazilian Federation. The margin of error is 2 percentage points.

O post 36% of Brazilians bet on betting after regulation apareceu primeiro em Gaming365.

During a public hearing at the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), Finance Minister Fernando Haddad clarified the government’s position regarding betting companies. According to him, the intention is not to demonize the industry but to ensure that it contributes fairly to the country’s economy.

Industry Perspectives

Bernardo Cavalcanti Freire, partner at Betlaw and legal advisor to the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), highlighted that the debate earlier this year established the fixed-odds betting contribution at 12%, in addition to other standard taxes — which can raise the effective rate to over 40%. He questioned the need for an increase so soon, arguing that raising the tax burden without first evaluating its effectiveness would be irresponsible.

Nickolas Ribeiro, founder and partner at Grupo Ana Gaming, believes that maintaining the current rate is a sensible decision. He explained that the sector is still in a structuring phase, with heavy investments in compliance, technology, and job creation. According to him, tax balance is essential to ensure competitiveness and prevent consumers from migrating to unregulated platforms.

The Impact of High Taxation

Alex Rose, CEO of InPlaySoft, cited examples from countries like Spain and Italy, where excessive taxes have strengthened the illegal market, undermining player protection and the purpose of regulation itself. He hopes that Brazil will find a balanced solution that meets the interests of all stakeholders.

Igor Sá, CMO and COO of HiperBet, emphasized the importance of betting taxes for the nation’s revenue. However, he warned that an excessive tax burden could hinder operational planning and fuel illegal gambling, which already represents a large portion of the market. According to him, the main focus should be on fighting unlicensed operations.

Predictability and Sustainable Growth

Fellipe Campos, managing partner at Luck.bet, pointed out that maintaining the current tax rate provides legal security and predictability for operators, while fostering the sustainable growth of Brazil’s betting market. He advocates for balanced policies that combine clear regulation, fair taxation, stronger enforcement against illegal operators, and incentives for formalization.

According to data from the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), 15,000 illegal betting websites were blocked in the first half of this year. During the same period, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA-MF) collected approximately R$ 2.2 billion in authorization fees paid by licensed operators and around R$ 50 million in inspection fees.

Overview of Brazil’s Betting Market

Between January and June, about 17.7 million Brazilians placed fixed-odds bets, generating R$ 17.4 billion in revenue for betting companies. On average, each active bettor spent R$ 164 per month. These figures demonstrate the enormous potential of Brazil’s regulated betting market, which continues to expand rapidly.

The challenge now is to find a tax balance that allows the industry to grow sustainably — ensuring strong tax collection without suffocating operators and effectively curbing the spread of illegal gambling.

Taxation Summary – Brazil Betting Market

Source: Gaming365

O post Brazil Betting Industry: Government Drops Plan to Raise Tax, Focuses on Compliance and Illegal Sites apareceu primeiro em Gaming365.

The provisional measure was expected to generate significant revenue for the government, with projections of R$ 10.55 billion in 2025 and R$ 20.87 billion in 2026, the latter being an election year. The government’s plan now involves introducing a legislative bill to establish the Litígio Zero Bets, a special regime for the regularization of foreign and tax assets, to compensate for the anticipated revenue shortfall.

The Litígio Zero Bets Initiative

The Litígio Zero Bets initiative aims to address the revenue gap left by the failed provisional measure. This program is designed to allow betting companies to regularize their tax obligations retroactively. It specifically targets the repatriation of funds sent abroad up to December 31, 2024, before the new regulatory framework for the betting market is implemented.

Under this initiative, a 15% income tax will be levied on capital gains, with an additional 100% fine on the assessed tax. The government estimates a potential revenue of R$ 5 billion from this program, as stated by the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad. Only betting companies authorized by the Ministry of Finance will be eligible to participate, with a 90-day window for adherence from the enactment of the law.

Government’s Strategic Considerations

Within the government, there is a belief that opposing the tax increase would be politically unfavorable for the opposition or the Centrão, a centrist bloc in the Brazilian Congress. The government’s strategy involves leveraging this political dynamic to push through the legislative changes necessary to implement the Litígio Zero Bets.

The Federal Revenue Service and the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets have been contemplating a compliance program to facilitate the retroactive regularization of tax obligations by betting companies. This initiative has been under discussion since the establishment of the intersecretarial betting group in January 2025, tasked with overseeing the sector.

Financial Projections and Expectations

The government has set a conservative revenue target of R$ 5 billion from the Litígio Zero Bets program. However, more optimistic forecasts from the intersecretarial group suggest potential revenues could reach R$ 12.6 billion. These projections highlight the significant financial impact that effective regulation and taxation of the betting industry could have on the national budget.

The government’s focus on this sector underscores its importance as a source of revenue, especially in light of the fiscal challenges faced by the administration. By pursuing a retroactive tax collection strategy, the government aims to tap into previously untaxed capital flows, thereby bolstering its fiscal position.

The potential revenue from the Litígio Zero Bets program is estimated at R$ 5 billion, according to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad.

Fonte: Gaming365

O post Government to Persist with Retroactive Betting Tax Collection apareceu primeiro em Gaming365.