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Brazil’s regulated betting market generated BRL37 billion ($7 billion) in gross gaming revenue during its first year of operation, with 79 licensed operators reporting activity from 25.2 million bettors throughout 2025.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) released the figures this week, providing the first comprehensive overview of licensed betting activity since the market opened on January 1, 2025. The data marks a significant milestone for Latin America’s largest regulated betting jurisdiction.
Revenue and Regulatory Fees
Licensed operators paid approximately BRL2.5 billion ($475 million) in licensing fees during the year, with each license costing BRL30 million ($5.7 million). The SPA collected an additional BRL95.5 million ($18.15 million) through inspection fees.
The Federal Revenue Service reported close to BRL10 billion ($1.9 billion) in tax collections from licensed betting operations in 2025, including BRL1.1 billion ($209 million) in December alone.
SPA chief Regis Dudena said the collected data will inform future regulatory decisions regarding player protection measures.
“The year 2025 marked the first time the state was fully present in this market,” Dudena stated. “Data was received, allowing for an objective understanding of the sector, in addition to monitoring tools to track compliance with the established rules. We have economic data and information on individuals, which helps us prevent gambling problems and allows us to act in coordination with other bodies, such as the Ministries of Health, Sports, and Justice.”
Player Demographics
The demographic breakdown showed 68.3% of bettors were male, while 31.7% were female. Age distribution revealed that bettors aged 31 to 40 represented the largest segment at 28.6% of total activity. Players aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 30 each accounted for 22.7%, while those over 61 represented 2.7% of the betting population.
Self-Exclusion Platform Launch
The SPA launched a centralized self-exclusion platform in December, enabling players to block their access to all licensed betting websites. The regulator previously identified the self-exclusion system as its highest priority initiative.
Within 40 days of launch, the platform received more than 217,000 requests. The most commonly cited reason for self-exclusion was “Loss of control over gambling – mental health,” with 73% of users selecting an indefinite exclusion period.
Enforcement Actions Against Illegal Operators
The Brazilian betting sector continues to face challenges from unlicensed operators, with current estimates suggesting illegal platforms account for up to 50% of total betting activity. Tax levels and unlicensed competition remain primary concerns for licensed operators, with the tax rate scheduled to increase gradually to 15% by 2028.
The SPA reported extensive enforcement activity throughout 2025. In cooperation with the National Telecommunications Agency, authorities blocked more than 25,000 offshore betting websites operating without authorization.
The Undersecretariat for Monitoring and Inspection registered 132 cases involving 133 companies during the year, with 80 cases still in progress for penalty applications.
Financial enforcement actions targeted payment channels linked to illegal betting operations. By year-end, 54 payment and financial institutions had submitted 1,255 reports to the SPA involving 1,687 individuals suspected of transactions with unlicensed operators. These investigations resulted in the closure of 550 bank accounts.
Authorities also addressed illegal promotion activities on digital platforms. The SPA concluded 412 inspection processes involving social media influencers, leading to the removal of 324 profiles and 229 publications promoting unlicensed betting services.
“It is important to make it clear that regulation exists to be observed,” Dudena explained. “The SPA will be attentive to its compliance, and those who do not comply will be subject to the penalties provided for by law and regulation.”
The first-year results establish Brazil as one of the world’s largest regulated betting markets by revenue and active player count. The regulatory framework combines licensing requirements, player protection measures, and enforcement actions against illegal operators as the market continues to develop.
Source: Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA)
