ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge has called on Brazilian authorities to maintain pressure on unlicensed betting operators, warning that illegal sites still control nearly half the online betting market and could gain ground if new restrictions make the regulated sector uncompetitive.
Tax revenue from the regulated market rose from BRL 3.1 billion ($620 million) in the first five months of 2025 to BRL 5.89 billion in the same period this year. The World Cup, held for the first time under Brazil's licensing regime, drove additional handle in June, though official figures for that month have not yet been published. Licensed operators met strict requirements set by the Secretariat for Prizes and Betting (SPA), including Technical Note 3620 on advertising and communications.
Municipal moves to ban betting advertising in public spaces — in Rio de Janeiro, João Pessoa and São Paulo — have drawn opposition from the association. Jorge argues they violate Article 22 of the Constitution, which reserves commercial advertising regulation to the federal level. 'Different rules across 26 states and more than 5,000 municipalities would create legislative chaos and legal uncertainty for operators,' he said.
ANJL views the new federal advertising rules as additional protection for players and the industry. Jorge expects political pressure to intensify in the second half of the year during the election campaign, then subside. The priority is to prevent illegal platforms from reclaiming market share. ANJL, Anatel and SPA have launched a joint laboratory to monitor and analyse the betting market.
