Brazil: Ministry of Justice Notifies Apple and Google Over Illegal Betting Apps

Brazil – July 15, 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has formally notified Apple and Google to explain the presence of illegal betting applications in their respective app stores and to detail the measures they have adopted to prevent minors from accessing such platforms. The initiative is part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight of Brazil’s regulated betting market and combat illegal gambling apps.

Overview

According to the Ministry, inspections identified applications offering fixed-odds betting and other lottery products without authorization from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance. Authorities also found that some of these apps remained available for download without effective age verification mechanisms.

Details

The official notices ask Apple and Google to clarify:

  • How they verify whether betting operators hold valid federal licences.
  • Which age-verification systems are implemented before downloads.
  • The average time required to remove illegal applications.
  • The procedures used to monitor their app stores.
  • The measures adopted to prevent search tools from recommending gambling apps to minors.

The Ministry stressed that simply acting as an intermediary does not exempt digital platforms from their legal obligations regarding consumer protection and children’s online safety. It argues that app stores have a proactive duty to prevent the distribution of illegal gambling services.

Context

The action follows Brazil’s broader regulatory strategy to strengthen consumer protection and enforce compliance within the country’s newly regulated betting market. Authorities maintain that digital platforms must actively cooperate in preventing illegal operators from reaching Brazilian consumers, particularly children and teenagers.

Next Steps

Apple and Google have been given a deadline to respond to the Ministry’s questions. Once the replies are analysed, the government will determine whether additional regulatory or enforcement measures are necessary.

Edited by: @_fonta

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