Brazil moves to legalize online gambling and sports betting in 2025

Brazil is preparing to legalise online gambling and sports betting nationwide starting 1 January 2025. The Finance Ministry has set out licensing rules, requiring operators to obtain five‑year licences costing 30 million BRL (about €5.4 million) and to meet technical standards such as a minimum 85 % return‑to‑player rate, transparent odds and anti‑money‑laundering controls. By mid‑August, 113 applications had been received from firms including Betano and Sportingbet.

The change follows a rapid expansion of Brazil’s betting market, now generating roughly $7 billion annually and heavily sponsoring football clubs. While the government sees new tax revenue and consumer protection benefits, officials also warn of social costs. President Lula has called the betting boom a "social tragedy" and introduced measures such as a self‑exclusion platform and incorporation of gambling addiction treatment into the public health system. The legalisation aims to shift activity from the grey market into a regulated framework while curbing problem gambling.