Flávio Bolsonaro Criticises Betting Expansion but Backs Sports Betting
Brazil.- 25 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) has brought online betting further into Brazil‘s 2026 election debate by criticising the sector’s expansion while drawing a distinction between betting on real sporting events and online casino games.
During a livestream on 23 September, Bolsonaro said he opposed gambling generally but argued that sports betting could be subject to a greater degree of control. He took a different position on online casino games, arguing that they should no longer be available.
Sports Betting and Online Casino
Bolsonaro’s remarks separate two major verticals currently operating within Brazil‘s federal regulated market.
Fixed-odds sports betting was legalised in 2018, while online games were incorporated into the broader framework established under Law 14,790/2023.
The candidate argued that wagers linked to real sporting events have an external reference point that provides some possibility of control, while directing his criticism towards digital casino products.
Statements
Flávio Bolsonaro said he was broadly opposed to gambling but distinguished betting on real sports from online casino games.
He also politically attributed the expansion and regulation of the sector to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.
That attribution forms part of the candidate’s campaign argument. The legislative chronology extends across several administrations, beginning with the legalisation of fixed-odds sports betting in 2018.
Regulatory Timeline
Brazil legalised fixed-odds sports betting through Law 13,756/2018, during Michel Temer’s presidency.
A broader regulatory framework was subsequently enacted through Law 14,790/2023, following legislation approved by Congress and sanctioned by President Lula.
The later framework expanded rules governing authorisation, taxation, advertising, consumer protection and online gaming.
2018 Legalisation
Law 13,756/2018 formally introduced fixed-odds sports betting into Brazil‘s legal framework.
The sector therefore had legal foundations before the current Lula administration.
However, full federal operational regulation was developed later.
2023 Framework
Law 14,790/2023 provided a broader structure for the market.
It covered fixed-odds betting and brought online gaming within the regulated framework.
The Ministry of Finance subsequently issued technical, commercial and compliance regulations required for authorised operations.
Regulated Market Since 2025
Since 1 January 2025, only companies authorised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting may operate nationally under the federal fixed-odds betting framework.
Federally authorised betting brands use domains ending in .bet.br.
Operator Requirements
Authorised businesses face obligations covering:
- Licensing.
- Player identification.
- Responsible gambling.
- Advertising.
- Anti-money laundering.
- Transaction monitoring.
- Data protection.
- Tax compliance.
- Technical systems.
SPA is responsible for federal authorisation and supervision.
Online Casino at the Centre of Criticism
Bolsonaro’s comments focus particularly on online casino games.
He associated such products with consumer debt and argued that they should be removed from the market.
These are the candidate’s stated political positions and should be distinguished from independent assessments of the regulated sector’s effects.
Sports Betting Under Regulation
In contrast, Bolsonaro left open the possibility of maintaining regulated sports betting.
Brazil‘s current federal framework already applies licensing, monitoring and responsible-gambling rules to authorised sportsbooks.
Different Product Structures
Sports betting and online casino currently sit within the same wider federal regulatory framework but operate differently.
Sports wagers are settled according to external sporting events.
Online casino games rely on certified digital game systems and mechanics permitted under current rules.
Responsible Gambling
SPA maintains specific responsible-gambling requirements.
Portaria SPA/MF No. 1,231/2024, as subsequently amended, sets rules covering marketing, communications and the rights and obligations of players and licensed operators.
Advertising Rules
The same framework establishes restrictions and obligations around commercial communications.
The federal government continued amending and consolidating these rules during 2026.
Electoral Debate
Online betting has become a prominent topic during Brazil‘s 2026 presidential campaign.
Candidates and political actors are advancing different approaches to which products should remain authorised and how strongly the state should regulate them.
Bolsonaro’s stated position distinguishes sports betting from online casino rather than treating all betting products identically.
Lula’s Position
President Lula has also adopted increasingly restrictive public rhetoric towards online betting during 2026.
Those statements coexist with the fact that his administration implemented much of the current regulatory structure following passage of the 2023 law.
Political statements do not themselves alter the regulatory framework currently in force.
Dispute Over Responsibility
Political responsibility for the expansion of betting is contested.
The factual timeline includes:
- Sports betting legalisation in 2018.
- No complete federal operating regime immediately following that law.
- Passage of a broader framework in 2023.
- Detailed implementation during 2024.
- Launch of the fully authorised federal market in January 2025.
The current market therefore developed through legislative and regulatory steps spanning several political periods.
Authorised Companies
The Ministry of Finance maintains a public list of companies authorised to provide fixed-odds betting nationally.
Each federal authorisation can cover up to three brands, with licensed websites operating under .bet.br domains.
The official list continued to be updated in September 2026.
Unauthorised Operators
Brazil has also intensified enforcement against illegal operators.
Measures include domain blocking, financial restrictions and action against unauthorised advertising.
SPA’s 2026-2027 regulatory agenda includes further revision of procedures for restricting payments linked to unlicensed operators.
Payment Controls
The Secretariat is reviewing rules intended to prevent financial-service providers from processing transactions connected with unauthorised betting businesses.
These measures form part of Brazil‘s wider channelisation strategy.
Authorisation Review
SPA’s regulatory agenda also provides for a review of procedures governing the approval, suspension and termination of federal licences.
The framework introduced in 2025 therefore continues to evolve during 2026.
Debate Over Prohibition
The 2026 campaign is increasingly shifting part of the discussion from how gambling should be regulated to which products should remain permitted.
Bolsonaro’s remarks do not call for the elimination of every form of betting.
Instead, his stated distinction would preserve sports betting while targeting online casino games.
Potential Industry Impact
If such a position were later converted into legislation and enacted, it could substantially alter operators’ commercial structures.
Many authorised Brazilian brands currently combine sportsbook and online casino products on the same platform.
Separating the verticals would require changes to product portfolios, technology, marketing and revenue models.
At present, however, the remarks are campaign statements rather than changes to existing law.
Multi-Vertical Operators
Brazil‘s current framework permits authorised companies to offer different products covered by federal regulation.
This has enabled integrated sportsbook and casino strategies.
Any structural change would require the relevant legislative and regulatory process.
Supplier Impact
Restrictions on online casino could also affect game studios, aggregators and platform providers.
Brazil has become an important expansion market for international iGaming suppliers since the regulated framework took effect.
Sports Sponsorship
Betting companies also maintain a significant commercial presence across Brazilian sport.
A policy that maintained regulated sports betting could preserve parts of that commercial ecosystem, although advertising and sponsorship rules remain subject to separate political and regulatory debate.
Consumer Protection
The existing market already includes consumer-protection and responsible-gambling requirements.
The political debate now partly concerns whether those safeguards are sufficient or whether specific product categories should face tighter restrictions.
Industry Context
Brazil is in its second full year under the authorised federal betting model.
The market is simultaneously experiencing corporate consolidation, evolving compliance requirements, illegal-market enforcement and more intense political debate about gambling-related harm.
The presidential election is bringing those regulatory choices into broader economic and consumer-policy discussions.
Next Steps or Impact
Flávio Bolsonaro’s remarks introduce an explicit distinction between sports betting and online casino into the presidential campaign.
Under current federal law, both remain permitted when offered by appropriately authorised operators under SPA rules.
Any prohibition of online casino games would require legal and regulatory changes before affecting currently authorised businesses.
For the industry, the development of the presidential campaign will therefore be relevant to future debates over taxation, advertising, responsible gambling, sportsbook and online casino policy.
The wider significance is that betting has become a national political issue, with different actors promoting different models for the future scope of Brazil‘s regulated market.
Editó: @fonta
