The Assistant Secretary for Betting Monitoring and Inspection (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance, Carlos Renato Xavier, when taking stock this Monday, 22nd, of the first 12 months of the regulation of betting platforms (bets), said that the period is complete showing the complete success of the measure.
“I assess that the regulation of the betting sector in Brazil is already proving to be a successful solution when compared to the long period in which this market operated without clear rules. The existence of a regulated environment, with the permanent action of the State and the SPA’s attention focused on consumer protection regulations, the preservation of the popular economy and the health of the industry, reduces conflicts and prevents problems from worsening in the absence of control”, said the undersecretary when participating in the morning as a panelist in the 4th edition of the seminar “The Future of Bets in Brazil”, organized by Pinheiro Neto Advogados, in São Paulo.
According to him, since the beginning of regulatory work, in 2024, the sub-secretariat has assumed responsibility for developing standards and conducting the authorization processes that structure the sector. “It was a period of intense learning, including for our team, which sought technical improvement and knowledge in dialogue with operators, providers and other market stakeholders”, he explained.
Also, Xavier continued, “we draw on the experience of more mature jurisdictions, which have been working with regulated betting for a longer time, to incorporate good practices and avoid mistakes already faced in other countries”.
According to the under-secretary, it is important to recognize that the time needed to consolidate this regulatory framework had costs, but it also offered an advantage: the possibility of observing problems and failures of other international experiences and, based on this, incorporating safeguards into the Brazilian model.
Last week, he said, clearly illustrated the intensity and breadth of this work. “On Tuesday, we participated in a debate at the National Congress with the presence of several secretariats and institutions, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, Conar and the National Secretariat for Consumer Protection. The meeting was more than a debate: it was a space in which government and society exposed their views on the market and associated problems, making it clear that monitoring is not limited to SPA.”
“There is coordinated and vigilant action from different bodies, which reinforces the need for close monitoring to ensure a healthy, lasting and fraud-free market”, highlighted Xavier.
At the same time, the undersecretary amended the department and made firm progress in tackling the illegal market – the source of the biggest negative externalities.
“Last week, two robust standards aimed at combating illegality were published. Furthermore, we observed a relevant change in the institutional discourse, with the alignment between the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice to direct efforts to the correct focus: it is not to go back in the regulation process, but to intensify the fight against illegal operators, who operate outside the rules and increase risks to the consumer, the popular economy and the integrity of the sector”, he said, stating that the government remains convinced that regulation, accompanied by inspection effective and interinstitutional cooperation, is essential to guarantee a responsible, transparent and sustainable betting market in Brazil.
