BRAZIL - Secretariat for Prize and Betting (SPA)
- Founded
- 2024-01-01 in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Headquarters
- Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) is the federal regulatory body under Brazil's Ministry of Finance responsible for authorizing, supervising, and enforcing the country's regulated fixed-odds betting and online gaming market. Created by Presidential Decree in January 2024, the SPA replaced an earlier sports-betting unit and was given a broad mandate to issue federal licenses, set technical and compliance standards, collect authorization fees, and enforce advertising, KYC, AML, and responsible gambling obligations nationwide. Brazil operates under a single federal license system, meaning a license from the SPA grants access to the entire country of roughly 200 million people. The regulator began accepting applications in 2024 and, as of January 2025, only SPA-authorized operators may legally offer betting services. The SPA published a 2025–2026 Regulatory Agenda focusing on technical standards, responsible gaming, and market supervision. Headquartered in Brasília, the secretariat is led by a secretary appointed by the Minister of Finance and has a core team of around 100 staff, with plans to expand.
Detailed Review
Background & Legal Framework
Brazil's gambling landscape was historically fragmented: land-based casinos were banned since 1946, while lotteries remained permitted at the federal level. After years of debate, Law No. 13,756/2018 allowed fixed-odds sports betting but lacked implementing rules. Law No. 14,790/2023, signed by President Lula in December 2023, provided a comprehensive framework covering both sports betting and online casino games. To enforce this law, Decree No. 11,907 created the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) within the Ministry of Finance in January 2024.
Regulatory Scope & Activities
The SPA is the sole federal authority for licensing and supervising all online gambling under Law 14.790/2023. Its responsibilities include issuing federal authorizations after assessing operator suitability, financial health, and technical infrastructure; monitoring compliance with advertising rules, responsible gaming measures, and tax obligations; publishing ordinances detailing technical, accounting, and responsible gaming standards; and maintaining a public list of authorized operators. In early 2025, the SPA initiated 66 supervisory proceedings involving 93 operators.
Licence Model
Brazil adopts a federal, nationwide license system. A single license costs BRL 30 million (approx. USD 6 million) and grants a 5-year term covering all 27 states and the Federal District. By January 2025, the SPA had received applications from dozens of major operators and granted the first round of licenses, ending the grey-market period.
Recent Developments
In February 2025, the SPA published its 2025–2026 Regulatory Agenda, inviting industry feedback on technical standards for platform certification, advertising restrictions, and enhanced consumer protections. The regulator also appointed Daniele Cardoso as its permanent leader in January 2025, succeeding Regis Dudena who had served as interim secretary and helped establish the secretariat.
Key Products / Services
As a regulator, the SPA's core offering is the Federal Betting License, which authorizes fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games. It also maintains an Operator and Brand Registry, issues binding ordinances on compliance (including payment integration via Pix, advertising, and player protection), conducts supervision and enforcement with sanctions, and provides a responsible gaming framework featuring self-exclusion tools, deposit limits, and mandatory messaging.
Market Position & Structure
Unlike state-by-state systems (e.g., the US), Brazil's single federal license creates a unified market with centralized oversight. The SPA's creation followed years of unregulated betting and was driven by the need to tax and control the industry. The secretariat works within the Ministry of Finance and coordinates with other federal agencies on AML and consumer protection matters.
Key Products
Licensing Framework (Ordinance SPA/MF No. 827/2024)
Establishes the eligibility, application, and fee structure for operators seeking a federal licence to offer fixed‑odds sports betting and online casino games.
Supervisory & Enforcement Programme
A compliance monitoring system that audits licensed operators, investigates irregularities, and coordinates with law enforcement to block unlicensed websites (over 25,000 sites shut down by mid‑2025).
Regulatory Ordinances
A collection of binding rules published by the SPA covering technical standards, responsible gaming, advertising, player rights, and anti‑money‑laundering obligations.
SPA Check (third‑party compliance tool)
A data‑enrichment service provided by SEON that integrates SPA registration data with social welfare and politically‑exposed‑person screening; used by operators for due diligence.
Betting Licence Authorisation
Grants federal licences to operators of fixed‑odds betting (sports, online casino, virtual events) after thorough vetting.
Supervision and Enforcement
Monitors licensed operators for compliance with technical, financial and responsible‑gambling rules; investigates and sanctions illegal operators.
Regulatory Rule‑Making
Publishes ordinances (e.g., SPA/MF No. 827/2024, No. 1,207/2024) that define operational standards, advertising restrictions and player‑protection measures.
Market Monitoring
Collects data on betting turnover, prize payouts and suspicious activity; shares intelligence with law enforcement and financial intelligence units.
Public Registry of Authorised Operators
Maintains an official online list of companies permitted to offer betting services in Brazil.
Responsible Gambling Programme
Sets mandatory self‑exclusion systems, deposit limits and educational campaigns; operates a General Coordination unit dedicated to monitoring problematic gambling.
Federal Betting Licenses
Authorization to operate fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games across all of Brazil, valid for five years upon payment of a BRL 30 million fee.
Operator & Brand Registry
Public database listing all licensed companies and their approved brands, enabling transparency for consumers and stakeholders.
Ordinances & Technical Standards
Binding rules covering compliance areas such as payment integration (Pix), advertising restrictions, and player protection obligations.
Supervision & Enforcement
Monitoring, inspection, and sanctioning of operators, including fines, suspension, or revocation of licenses for non-compliance.
Responsible Gaming Framework
Tools and requirements for self-exclusion, deposit limits, and mandatory messaging to promote responsible gambling.
Offices & Headcount
100 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
Regis DudenaFormer Secretary (2024–2025)
Daniele Correa CardosoSecretary