Two Betting Companies Added to Brazil’s Authorized Operators List

Two betting companies, Esportes Gaming and Esportes da Sorte, have been added to Brazil’s national list of authorized betting operators. Both companies had initially been excluded from the first list released in early October, despite registering with the Betting Management System (Sigap) and submitting all required documentation.

Esportes Gaming’s Inclusion Through Court Order

According to the Ministry of Finance, Esportes Gaming’s inclusion was mandated by a court order. After initially being left off the federal government’s list, the company acquired ST Soft, which held a license from Loterj and operated under the Apostou.com brand. This acquisition secured Esportes Gaming’s right to continue operating.

Esportes da Sorte’s Compliance and Sponsorships

Esportes da Sorte’s inclusion followed its accreditation by the State Lottery of Rio de Janeiro. This led the Ministry of Finance to issue a revised list in early October, adding the betting company to the authorized operators. In its appeal, Esportes da Sorte asserted that it had adhered to “all the legal and regulatory procedures established by the legislation and its respective ordinances.”

Esportes da Sorte is a prominent sponsor of five clubs in the Brazilian Championship: Corinthians, Bahia, Grêmio, Palmeiras (women’s team), and Athletico-PR (although Athletico-PR announced the suspension of its contract with the company earlier in October).

Transition Period and Future Licensing

The betting companies currently on the government’s list are permitted to operate in Brazil during a transition period that extends until the end of the year. The Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) is expected to announce the list of companies definitively approved to operate in the country starting January 1, 2025.

The SPA is anticipated to reveal the names of the approved companies by November 20. These companies will be required to pay a licensing fee of R$30 million (US$ 5.3m) to obtain the official license. They must also maintain compliance with regulations designed to combat fraud, money laundering, and abusive advertising, as well as implement practices that promote responsible gambling.

Current Landscape of Authorized Betting Sites

Currently, the National List comprises 98 companies with 217 indicated domains. The State List includes 26 companies with 31 betting houses either operational or in the implementation phase. The State List encompasses accreditations from the lotteries of Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, and Paraíba. In total, there are over 230 authorized sites listed.