IBJR Backs New Rules to Block Payments to Illegal Betting Operators
Brazil.- 18 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, IBJR, has welcomed new rules introduced by the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting to strengthen financial enforcement against unauthorised betting operators in Brazil.
Ordinance SPA/MF No. 2,750/2026 expands the mechanisms used to identify, block and report transactions connected with the illegal provision of fixed-odds betting.
Financial Flows Become a Primary Target
IBJR considers disruption of financial flows to be one of the most effective tools available for reducing the operating capacity of illegal betting businesses.
Restricting deposits, receipts and transfers can make it considerably harder for unauthorised operators to continue serving Brazilian customers.
New Obligations for the Financial System
The framework applies to:
- Financial institutions.
- Payment institutions.
- Payment-arrangement operators.
- Other participants involved in transferring funds.
These businesses must strengthen processes for detecting and reviewing suspicious activity.
Identifying Illegal Operators
The ordinance establishes mechanisms for detecting transactions directly connected with unauthorised betting operators.
Its scope also covers individuals and companies used as intermediaries to receive, transfer or redistribute funds on behalf of illegal platforms.
Greater Scrutiny of Intermediaries
The framework is designed to prevent operators from circumventing restrictions through third-party companies or accounts.
Financial institutions must therefore consider whether apparently unrelated businesses are acting as payment bridges between bettors and illegal operators.
Indicators of Suspicious Activity
Warning signs can include:
- Transactions inconsistent with a company’s declared economic activity.
- Sudden increases in transaction volume.
- Betting or gaming references.
- Mentions of bonuses.
- Credits.
- Prizes.
- Top-ups.
- Names or brands associated with betting businesses.
Monitoring New Accounts
The regulation also addresses mechanisms used to continue operating following an enforcement action.
Opening new accounts after an existing account has been restricted is one of the practices that institutions are expected to monitor.
Pix Keys and QR Codes
Frequent replacement of Pix keys and QR Codes is another potential indicator.
Repeated changes can suggest an attempt to keep payment channels operational after an earlier account has been blocked.
Use of New Intermediaries
Successive use of different individuals or companies to process funds can also trigger scrutiny.
The intention is to allow authorities to follow the wider financial structure rather than focusing solely on a single account holder.
Blocking Within 24 Hours
Once SPA formally identifies an account as being connected with illegal betting activity, the relevant financial institution must implement the block within 24 hours.
The requirement is designed to reduce the opportunity for funds to be withdrawn or moved before enforcement takes effect.
Reporting Back to SPA
Following the blocking action, institutions must notify the Secretariat that the measure has been implemented.
This creates an administrative record and enables further regulatory follow-up.
Information May Be Shared With Senasp
Details of certain blocked accounts may also be sent to Brazil‘s National Secretariat of Public Security, Senasp.
The information can potentially support proceedings involving forfeiture of funds to the state, subject to due process and rights of defence.
IBJR Highlights Consumer Protection
IBJR argues that disrupting illegal payment flows can also reduce consumers’ exposure to fraud and abusive practices.
The organisation links enforcement against unlicensed platforms with broader bettor protection.
Competition Between Legal and Illegal Markets
The Institute also argues that blocking illegal financial flows can help create more balanced competitive conditions for authorised operators.
Licensed companies are subject to tax, technical, operational and player-protection requirements that illegal operators do not comply with in the same way.
This represents IBJR’s sector position rather than a regulatory conclusion.
Broader Brazilian Enforcement Strategy
Ordinance 2,750 forms part of a wider expansion of Brazil‘s enforcement framework.
Alongside blocking websites and domains, authorities are increasing scrutiny of:
- Payments.
- Advertising.
- Intermediaries.
- Applications.
- Social media.
- Infrastructure supporting illegal operators.
Industry Context
Brazil has operated a federally regulated fixed-odds betting market under SPA supervision since January 2025.
Illegal supply remains one of the framework’s principal challenges, particularly because unauthorised operators can rapidly replace domains, accounts and customer-acquisition channels.
The new rules therefore target something every operation requires: access to the financial system.
Next Steps and Impact
Banks and payment institutions will now need to adapt their monitoring and response systems to the procedures established by the ordinance.
IBJR argues that progress should combine financial enforcement, consumer protection and support for the authorised market.
The effectiveness of the framework will now depend on how quickly suspicious accounts and intermediaries can be identified and their financial flows interrupted before operators redirect them elsewhere.
Editó: @fonta
