The Ministry of Justice regulates the recovery of funds from illegal bets; the amount could exceed R$ 1 billion.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) has regulated the administrative procedure that will allow progress in recovering more than R$ 1 billion in blocked funds related to the operation of illegal betting. Ordinance No. 1.287/2026, signed on Wednesday (2) by Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva, establishes, within the Ministry, the flow for the preparatory processes for the forfeiture of these resources.
This measure creates the necessary administrative pathway for assets seized from irregular fixed-odds betting operators to be incorporated into the Union's assets and allocated to the National Public Security Fund (FNSP) after due administrative process and a court decision of forfeiture.
The procedure will be conducted by the National Secretariat of Public Security (Senasp), through the Directorate of Management of the National Public Security Fund (DGFNSP). This area will be responsible for receiving the documents forwarded by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance, analyzing the documentation, initiating and processing the cases, and issuing the first-instance administrative decision.
Once this stage is completed, cases in which the understanding that forfeiture is warranted is maintained will be forwarded to the Attorney General's Office (AGU) for evaluation and adoption of the relevant legal measure.
According to the National Secretary of Public Security, Chico Lucas, the regulation creates conditions to transform resources linked to illegal activity into investments in the protection of the population.
“We are creating a pathway for money moved through illegal activities to return to society in the form of public safety. We are talking about a potential of over R$ 1 billion which, once all administrative and judicial steps are completed, could strengthen the National Public Security Fund and expand investment capacity in the states and the Federal District. It's an important logic: to remove resources from illegal activity and convert them into infrastructure, technology, and operational capacity for those who fight crime,” says Chico Lucas.
The ordinance establishes the different stages of the procedure, from receiving the documentation to its eventual referral to the Attorney General's Office. After the initiation of the proceedings, a Procedural Instruction Committee, composed of at least three public servants, will be responsible for analyzing documents and evidence and preparing a conclusive report.
The interested party will be notified and will have 15 days to present a defense, documents, indicate evidence, and list witnesses. An administrative appeal will also be guaranteed, within ten days, against the first instance decision. The appeal will be reviewed by the Minister of Justice and Public Security.
The rule makes it clear that the administrative decision does not automatically result in the incorporation of the funds by the Union. Forfeiture depends on a judicial decision. After the administrative phase is concluded, the case files will be sent to the Attorney General's Office (AGU), which will assess the prerequisites and the strategy for the appropriate legal action.
According to Camila Pintarelli, Director of Management at the National Public Security Fund, the regulation ensures legal security for the procedure and creates conditions for the resources to return to society.
“With this decree, we are taking a concrete step towards transforming the harm caused by illegal betting into protection for society. By creating a firm, transparent, and legally secure path to remove these assets from illegality, we are enabling resources previously associated with these harmful practices to be directly allocated to strengthening and structuring Brazilian public security, and returning to the population in the form of prevention, care, and protection,” Pintarelli emphasizes.
Resources for public safety
The funds that are effectively incorporated into the National Public Security Fund following a court decision will be registered and monitored by the DGFNSP (Directorate-General for National Public Security). The Senasp (National Secretariat for Public Security) will be responsible for proposing the application of these resources to actions financed by the Fund, respecting budgetary and financial legislation and the Secretariat's strategic planning.
The Ordinance also establishes that, whenever possible, priority will be given to allocating these resources to mandatory transfers, in the fund-to-fund modality, to the states and the Federal District.
The monitoring will cover all stages, including recording the blocked amounts reported by the competent authorities, the amounts submitted for judicial review, and those actually incorporated into the Union's assets, in addition to producing reports and management indicators.
The regulation also stipulates that any evidence of other illegal activities identified during the analysis of the cases must be reported to the competent authorities.
In cases related to potential criminal offenses, the information will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the police authorities. When there is evidence related to tax credits, the Federal Revenue Service and the Attorney General's Office of the National Treasury will be notified.
Decree No. 1.287/2026 enters into force on the date of its publication.
