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An iGaming lawyer in Brazil to keep your betting operation within the rules
In Brazilian betting, rules change by ordinance, not only by statute. Those who do not follow them learn about the change from an SPA/MF notice.
iGaming regulation is the body of rules that authorizes, limits and supervises fixed-odds betting and online games in Brazil: Law 14,790/2023 and the ordinances of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF). Talk to an iGaming lawyer before entering the market, when you receive an SPA request or when a new ordinance changes your routine.
An iGaming lawyer in Brazil reads betting regulation the way it works in practice: Law 14,790/2023 (Brazil's fixed-odds betting law) sets the framework, and the ordinances of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF, the federal regulator) set the day-to-day rules. Authorization, systems, payments, anti-money laundering, responsible gambling, advertising and sanctions each have their own acts, published in sequence since 2024.
This matters because the regulated market started on January 1, 2025, and rulemaking has not stopped. SPA/MF Ordinance 817/2025 set the regulatory agenda for 2025-2026, and 2026 brought standardized advertising warnings, an interministerial ordinance on betting marketing and a national policy against sports match-fixing. Each new act can change an internal process.
We treat regulatory work as a management routine, not as a legal opinion that sits in a drawer. We translate each change into a task, an owner and a deadline, and we keep every front consistent: what the AML/CFT policy says must match what onboarding does and what marketing publishes.
When to call a lawyer
A new ordinance is out and nobody knows the impact
Product, compliance and marketing read the same rule in different ways. Without a single legal reading, each team adjusts what it thinks it should, and the gaps show up during inspection.
An SPA/MF request or official letter has arrived
Requests for data, documents or clarifications come with deadlines and leave a record. The answer sets the tone with the regulator and can open or prevent a sanctioning proceeding.
The operation grew faster than its controls
New brands, games, payment methods or betting markets went live without regulatory review. What complied at the authorization stage may no longer comply.
A foreign group assessing Brazil
Before investing in a local entity, certification and the grant fee, the group needs to know whether its business model fits Brazilian regulation and what will have to change.
What happens when you leave it for later
- Fines from 0.1% to 20% of the operator's betting proceeds, capped at R$ 2 billion per infraction, under Law 14,790/2023.
- Partial or total suspension of activities for up to 180 days and, in serious cases, revocation of the authorization.
- Domain blocking: the SPA/MF orders it and Anatel (the national telecom regulator) passes the order on to internet providers, as has already happened to thousands of illegal sites.
- Sanctioning proceedings that damage banking relationships, sponsorships and the group's regulatory reputation.
How we work
Regulatory assessment
We map the business model, brands, games, payment methods and suppliers and test each point against the law and the ordinances in force.
Obligations matrix
We organize requirements by topic (authorization, systems, AML/CFT, responsible gambling, advertising, reporting), with source rule, internal owner and frequency.
Remediation plan
We rank gaps by sanction risk and correction effort, with realistic deadlines and evidence that proves each fix.
Regulatory monitoring
We follow the Official Gazette and SPA/MF acts and send the client a short note on what changes, for whom and from when.
Regulator relations and defense
We prepare responses to official letters, technical meetings and defenses in administrative sanctioning proceedings, using the same technical line as the remediation work.
What you receive
- Regulatory assessment report with risks ranked by severity
- Regulatory obligations matrix with rule, owner and deadline
- Remediation plan with timeline and expected evidence
- Alerts on new ordinances, with practical impact and effective date
- Draft responses to official letters and administrative defenses
Why the firm
Integrated reading
Regulatory, contracts, advertising and data sit with the same team. A change in an ordinance also reaches the affected clauses and campaigns.
Partner active in the sector
Partner Gabriel Oliveira (OAB/PE 30.970, Brazilian Bar Association, Pernambuco section) leads the iGaming and sports betting practice, with regulatory, contractual and advertising work.
Rules turned into decisions
We deliver what to do, who does it and by when. Long opinions that nobody applies do not reduce risk.
Illustrative scenario
Hypothetical scenario, for illustration only. An authorized operator decides to launch a new category of online games and add deposit methods. The product team wants to go live within a few weeks. In the regulatory review, the firm checks whether the games hold valid certification for Brazil, whether the new payment flow follows SPA/MF rules and whether the AML/CFT and responsible gambling policies cover the new product. The outcome is a list of adjustments before launch, with a record of the decisions taken. The real outcome of any case depends on the facts, the documents and the regulator's review.
A hypothetical scenario, shown only to illustrate our method. Every case depends on its own facts.Frequently asked questions
When should I hire an iGaming lawyer in Brazil?
Before decisions that change the operation: market entry, product launch, supplier change, a new campaign or an SPA/MF official letter. At those moments, legal review upfront costs less than fixing things later. Authorized operators also tend to keep ongoing support because of the pace of new ordinances.
Which rules govern fixed-odds betting in Brazil?
The foundation is Law 14,790/2023, detailed by SPA/MF ordinances. The main ones are 615/2024 (payments), 722/2024 (systems), 827/2024 (authorization), 1,143/2024 (AML/CFT), 1,207/2024 (online games), 1,231/2024 (responsible gambling and advertising) and 1,233/2024 (sanctions).
What are the sanctions under Law 14,790/2023?
The law provides for warnings, fines, suspension of activities and revocation of the authorization. For companies, fines range from 0.1% to 20% of betting proceeds, capped at R$ 2 billion per infraction. Suspension can last up to 180 days.
Does operating without authorization lead to site blocking?
Yes. The SPA/MF identifies illegal sites and orders them blocked, and Anatel passes the order on to internet providers. Beyond blocking, operating without authorization is an infraction subject to the sanctioning regime.
Do game and platform suppliers also need to follow the regulation?
Yes, because only systems and games certified by SPA/MF-accredited entities can be offered in Brazil, under Ordinances 722/2024 and 1,207/2024. In practice, operators require technical and documentary compliance from suppliers, and that becomes a contractual obligation.
Can the firm assist operators based outside Recife, including foreign groups?
Yes. The firm works nationwide and can meet remotely, with in-person meetings in Recife when useful. Betting regulation is federal, so the same analysis applies to operations anywhere in Brazil.
Related matters
Is your operation aligned with the ordinances in force?
Talk to the Oliveira & Jacobovitz iGaming team. We start with an assessment and set out the next step clearly.