Unauthorized operators still account for up to 44% of online betting in Brazil. What's the solution?
The regulation of fixed-odds betting brought new demands for security, transparency, and user protection in Brazil. However, more than a year and a half after the start of the new model, a significant challenge remains: between 38% and 44% of online bets are still placed on platforms without authorization to operate in the country.
The data is part of the Off the Radar 2.0 study, prepared by LCA Consultores, with research information from the Locomotiva Institute, commissioned by the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR). The survey indicates an improvement compared to 2025, when the estimated participation of companies outside the authorized environment ranged between 41% and 51%. The decrease indicates progress, but reveals that a significant portion of Brazilian bettors continue to use sites that are not subject to the same obligations imposed on licensed companies.
For Marco Tulio Oliveira, CEO of Ana Gaming, the scenario shows that the consolidation of the sector depends not only on oversight, but also on the ability to make the differences between the two environments clear to the public. “Creating rules was a fundamental step. Now, we need to ensure that they are perceived at the user level. The bettor must know how to identify where there are mechanisms for protection, oversight, transparency, and formal channels to exercise their rights. When such a significant portion of the activity remains outside this system, the issue ceases to be merely competitive and becomes one of user protection as well,” says the executive.
The magnitude of this risk was exemplified in August. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio de Janeiro launched an operation against a group suspected of operating websites without federal authorization, preventing customer withdrawals, and laundering funds. According to the investigation, reports from the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) identified transactions exceeding R$ 1,4 billion between 2022 and 2026, in addition to more than 800 financial operations considered suspicious.
This episode highlights a key difference in the new Brazilian model. Companies authorized by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance must comply with regulations related to user identification, money laundering prevention, advertising, integrity, security, and responsible gaming. They are also subject to public oversight and sanctions for non-compliance with established requirements.
The oversight even extends to companies that have received authorization to operate. In August, the SPA (Spanish Gaming Authority) provisionally suspended licenses after identifying failures in compliance with obligations. For Ana Gaming, this control is an essential part of the credibility built since the regulation came into effect: being in an authorized environment means accepting constant monitoring and being held accountable for any irregularities.
According to the CEO of Ana Gaming, this difference needs to gain increasing visibility. “Those who chose to operate within Brazilian regulations have made investments, structured compliance areas, adapted processes, and made concrete commitments to security and responsible gaming. This effort needs to result in a clear distinction for the bettor. Strengthening the authorized environment means creating conditions so that the client knows who they are dealing with and what guarantees they have,” emphasizes Marco Tulio Oliveira.
One of the simplest ways to identify them is to look at the web address. Companies with federal authorization use the domain “.bet.br”, created precisely to differentiate brands authorized to operate nationally.
For Ana Gaming , reducing the space for unauthorized platforms requires a combination of oversight, technology, and information. Blocking websites and payment methods is part of the process, but increasing public awareness of the differences between these environments will also be crucial.
About Ana Gaming Brazil
Ana Gaming Brasil is a Brazilian fixed-odds betting and online gaming operator, authorized by the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance and responsible for the 7K Bet and Bet.bet brands. The company operates with identity verification, restrictions on minors under 18 years of age, and responsible gaming tools such as usage limits and self-exclusion, focusing on adult entertainment, transparency, and player protection. In sports, 7K Bet is the main sponsor of Esporte Clube Vitória and maintains a presence in competitions and sports across the country.
Ministry of Finance warns: Gambling can be addictive. Betting is only permitted for those over 18 years of age. Gamble responsibly.
