Brazil’s Ministry of Finance is finalizing a new exclusion platform that will block minors, benefits recipients, professional athletes, and people with a history of gambling addiction from online betting.
Developed by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the List of those Prohibited from Betting will be mandatory for licensed operators. Bookmakers must prevent listed individuals from registering, depositing, or wagering. If an excluded user already has an account, operators must stop their play and return their funds.
Who Will Be Blocked?
The exclusion list will cover:
- Bolsa Família welfare recipients
- Beneficiaries of the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC)
- Under-18s
- Public officials working in the betting industry
- Professional athletes, referees, managers, inspectors, or coaches
- People diagnosed with gambling addiction
- Self-excluded users
- Individuals restricted by court order
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) banned gambling by welfare recipients in 2024. While age restrictions have been relatively easy to enforce through photo ID and daily reporting to the Treasury, blocking benefits recipients has been more complex. Regulators expect the new platform to resolve these enforcement gaps.
Linked to National Betting System
The exclusion list forms part of Brazil’s broader National Betting System (SINAPO), which the Finance Ministry is preparing to launch. SINAPO will centralize monitoring of licensed gambling operators at both federal and state levels, giving regulators a clearer picture of compliance.
Licensed operators will appear on a public list on the SPA website, helping players identify approved platforms. Operators will also benefit from streamlined banking, legal advertising, and app store placement.
Wider Gambling Developments
The Brazilian market continues to expand following the January launch of regulated online gambling. Operator Betano has secured a record sponsorship deal with Flamengo FC, worth an estimated R$200m (£31.4m) per year, replacing Pixbet as the club’s partner.
Meanwhile, Senator Humberto Costa has introduced Bill PL 3,754/2025, which would raise the minimum gambling age to 21, restrict advertising, and prohibit sponsorship of sporting, cultural, and educational events.
