- Popular sites allow bets on sporting events
Brazilian authorities have begun shutting down more than 2,000 betting websites, including those sponsoring top football teams like Corinthians, as the government seeks to regulate the booming online gambling industry.
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has described the surge in online betting as a “pandemic,” prompting stricter oversight of the sector. Since the legalization of sports betting in 2018, the industry has operated with minimal regulation, leaving it largely untaxed.
Popular sites allow bets on sporting events, while games like Aviator and the online casino game Fortune Tiger have also captivated Brazilian players. However, under new regulations set to take effect in January, platforms that fail to comply are being forced offline.
The rules aim to combat fraud, prevent money laundering, and protect vulnerable users, including minors, from gambling. “Anyone not regularized or in the process of regularization is being taken off the air,” Haddad said.
The finance ministry has identified over 2,000 “suspicious domains” and requested their removal by telecoms regulator Anatel. Among those affected is Esportes da Sorte, a major sponsor of several first-division football clubs, including Corinthians and Gremio.
In contrast, more than 200 sites that agreed to the new regulations will continue operating. The central bank estimates that 24 million Brazilians, or one in nine people, engage in online gambling—a trend that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has warned is pushing many low-income citizens into debt.