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Brazil betting license: from corporate structure to the authorization ordinance
A poorly prepared application turns into information requests, and those turn into months. Authorization starts before filing.
A Brazil betting license is the authorization granted by the Ministry of Finance, through the SPA/MF (Secretariat of Prizes and Betting), to operate fixed-odds betting. It requires a Brazilian company, minimum capital of R$ 30 million, a R$ 30 million grant fee and certified systems. Talk to a lawyer before setting up the corporate structure, not after filing.
Getting a Brazil betting license means obtaining, from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF, the federal regulator), the authorization provided for in Law 14,790/2023 (Brazil's fixed-odds betting law) and governed by SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024. The authorization lasts five years, carries a R$ 30 million grant fee and covers up to three commercial brands, all operated under a .bet.br domain.
The application combines requirements from several ordinances at once: payments (615/2024), systems and security (722/2024), AML/CFT (1,143/2024), online games (1,207/2024) and responsible gambling (1,231/2024). The SPA checks that they are consistent with one another. The review period is up to 150 days, but the clock stops every time an information request is left unanswered.
For us, licensing is a project with stages, an owner and a timeline. We design the structure before filing, build documentation backed by evidence and follow the application through the decision and beyond, because the conditions of the grant must be maintained for its entire term.
When to call a lawyer
A foreign group wants to enter the Brazilian market
A branch or representative office will not do. A Brazilian company is required, with headquarters and management in Brazil and a Brazilian shareholder holding at least 20% of the capital, which changes the cap table.
Capital and source of funds not yet organized
The rules require paid-in share capital and net equity of R$ 30 million, a R$ 5 million financial reserve and a statement on the lawful origin of the funds. Untraceable contributions trigger due diligence.
Platform and games not yet certified for Brazil
Betting systems and online games must be certified by an SPA/MF-accredited entity, with a data center in Brazil. Late certification delays the entire application.
More than three brands or a change of control ahead
Brands beyond the three covered and changes of control require specific treatment before the SPA/MF. The authorization is personal and non-transferable.
What happens when you leave it for later
- Successive information requests that suspend the 150-day clock and delay market entry.
- Rejection due to formal defects or a corporate structure incompatible with SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024.
- Operating without authorization, subject to fines, suspension and domain blocking by Anatel (the national telecom regulator) on SPA/MF orders.
- Sanctions that can reach revocation when the conditions required for the grant are not maintained throughout the five years.
How we work
Eligibility assessment
We review the group, the source of capital, shareholders and officers and the business model against the requirements of SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024.
Brazilian corporate structure
We design the limited liability company or corporation, the shareholders' agreement and governance, with Brazilian participation and control rules compatible with the fit-and-proper review.
Application file
We organize corporate acts, proof of capital, clearance certificates, AML/CFT and responsible gambling policies, technical certifications and the brand plan, with a checklist per rule.
Follow-up and information requests
We monitor the proceeding, answer SPA/MF requests on time and keep the client informed at every stage until the decision.
Post-authorization
Once the authorization ordinance is published, we organize the obligations calendar, registration and corporate changes and preparation for renewal.
What you receive
- Eligibility opinion with gaps and a correction plan
- Corporate structure and draft articles and shareholders' agreement
- Application file organized by regulatory requirement
- AML/CFT and responsible gambling policies tailored to the Brazilian business
- Post-authorization obligations calendar
Why the firm
Corporate and regulatory together
The same team designs the company and prepares the application. That avoids a structure that looks good on paper but fails the SPA/MF review.
Evidence-backed filing
Each requirement is proven by documents, not by statements. That is what reduces information requests and rework.
Beyond the grant
We plan to maintain the conditions from day one, because the authorization lasts five years and is supervised throughout.
Illustrative scenario
Hypothetical scenario, for illustration only. A betting technology group headquartered in Europe wants to operate in Brazil and plans to apply through its parent company. In the assessment, the firm recommends setting up a Brazilian subsidiary, bringing in a Brazilian shareholder in the required proportion and organizing proof of the origin of the capital. In parallel, it guides certification of the platform in the configuration that will actually operate and the adaptation of the AML/CFT policies to Brazilian reality. The application proceeds to filing with complete documentation. The decision depends on the SPA/MF review and the facts of each case.
A hypothetical scenario, shown only to illustrate our method. Every case depends on its own facts.Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Brazil betting license?
You must apply to the SPA/MF electronically, with the documents required by SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024. The applicant must be a Brazilian legal entity with minimum capital and equity, AML/CFT and responsible gambling policies and certified systems, and must pay the R$ 30 million grant fee as set out in the ordinance. Once approved, the authorization is published in the Diário Oficial da União (the federal official gazette).
How much does a betting license in Brazil cost?
The grant fee is R$ 30 million for five years and up to three commercial brands. In addition, SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024 requires minimum paid-in share capital and net equity of R$ 30 million and a R$ 5 million financial reserve. Certification, structure and tax costs come on top.
Can a foreign company get a betting license in Brazil?
Only through a Brazilian company with headquarters and management in the country. The rules require a Brazilian shareholder holding at least 20% of the share capital, and branches or representative offices of foreign companies are not eligible.
How long does SPA/MF authorization take?
SPA/MF Ordinance 827/2024 provides for up to 150 days for a decision. The period is suspended while any information request is pending, so the quality of the initial filing weighs on the total time.
Can I operate more than three brands under one authorization?
Yes, but brands beyond the three covered by the grant fee require an additional payment and an additional financial reserve, as set out in the regulation. All of them must operate under a .bet.br domain.
What happens if I operate before authorization?
Operating without authorization is an infraction under the sanctioning regime of Law 14,790/2023, with fines, suspension and a ban on the activity. The SPA/MF also orders the site blocked, carried out through Anatel, and this can count against the application itself.
Related matters
Applying for or maintaining an SPA/MF authorization?
Talk to the firm before you lock in the corporate structure. An eligibility assessment shows what is missing and in what order to solve it.