Brazil Notifies Apple and Google Over Unauthorised Betting Apps
Brazil.- 11 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Brazil‘s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has formally notified Apple and Google again after finding that both companies’ app stores continued to offer betting and gaming applications without the required federal authorisation.
The latest action was led by the National Secretariat for Digital Rights and seeks explanations regarding the companies’ app-review, oversight and age-verification mechanisms.
The intervention follows an initial warning issued in April 2026 and increases government pressure on major technology platforms to prevent unauthorised betting operators from using their digital ecosystems to reach Brazilian consumers.
New Notification to Both Platforms
Brazilian authorities acted after carrying out another review of applications available to users in the country.
The investigation found that software linked to fixed-odds betting and other gambling activities remained available despite lacking the necessary approval.
Their continued presence has raised questions about the effectiveness of internal review procedures used by the two largest mobile-app marketplaces.
Apple and Google Under Scrutiny
The notices directly concern platforms operated by:
- Apple.
- Google.
Together, the companies control the principal mobile-app distribution channels used by Brazilian consumers.
That position makes them important participants in any government strategy designed to limit illegal online gambling.
Apps Without Federal Approval
One of the main concerns is that some applications available through the stores were not connected with operators authorised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting within Brazil‘s Ministry of Finance.
Under Brazil‘s regulated framework, businesses must meet federal requirements before legally offering fixed-odds betting.
Unauthorised applications inside mainstream app stores therefore create another route into the unregulated market.
Licensing as a Core Requirement
Brazilian rules require betting businesses to obtain the necessary government authorisation before operating digitally.
The system is intended to establish a clear distinction between licensed companies and services outside the legal framework.
App stores consequently become a strategically important point for enforcing that distinction.
Second Warning During 2026
This is not the government’s first intervention.
In April, the Ministry had already requested explanations from Apple and Google after identifying numerous applications promoting, offering or facilitating access to betting activities without federal approval.
The latest review suggests that problems remained several months later.
Unauthorised Apps Remained Available
The persistence of irregular applications has attracted attention because it suggests previous corrective measures were insufficient.
The challenge is not limited to illegal websites.
It also involves downloadable products appearing through mainstream channels generally trusted by consumers.
Review Conducted on 29 June
Authorities conducted another assessment on 29 June.
The review examined both whether betting applications were properly authorised and whether controls prevented access by people under 18.
Its findings helped trigger the new notices.
Minors Could Access Betting Apps
Protection of minors is another major concern.
Authorities identified weaknesses that could allow under-18s to download or access certain gambling applications.
The issue therefore extends beyond licensing into child and adolescent protection.
Age-Verification Systems Questioned
The National Secretariat for Digital Rights has requested information about the mechanisms used to verify customer age.
Authorities want Apple and Google to explain how they prevent minors from installing or accessing gambling-related applications.
Minimum Age of 18
Brazilian regulated betting is restricted to adults.
Consumers under 18 years of age are prohibited from participating.
Technology used by operators and digital intermediaries is expected to support that restriction.
Digital Child and Adolescent Statute
The government action is also based on Brazil‘s Digital Child and Adolescent Statute, ECA Digital.
The legislation establishes protections for minors in digital environments.
Effective age-assurance mechanisms are among the requirements relevant to products and services carrying particular risks.
Age Controls Considered Ineffective
Authorities concluded that the existing safeguards were not sufficiently preventing underage access.
This raises broader questions about the responsibility of app-store operators.
The issue involves not only controls inside betting applications but also screening before those applications are made available for download.
Shared Responsibility Across the Digital Ecosystem
Brazil‘s approach reflects a wider concept of shared responsibility.
Gambling operators remain responsible for complying with gaming regulations.
However, the government is also examining intermediaries that facilitate consumer access, including digital marketplaces and other technology providers.
Notices Are Not Immediate Fines
The Ministry stressed that the current notices do not constitute immediate fines or penalties.
They are formal demands for information and rapid compliance with Brazilian rules.
Any subsequent enforcement response will depend on the companies’ answers and corrective measures.
Requirement to Adapt
The government expects Apple and Google to adjust their procedures quickly.
The continued availability of unauthorised apps after an earlier warning has increased scrutiny.
Both companies will need to demonstrate that their systems can identify and remove services incompatible with Brazilian regulation.
App-Screening Processes
A central question concerns the screening process used before applications are admitted to the stores.
Apple and Google are being asked to explain how they determine whether a betting business is authorised to operate in Brazil.
Authorities are particularly interested in whether federal licence status is independently verified.
Checks Before Publication
The case raises the wider question of whether digital stores should conduct regulatory checks before publishing apps belonging to highly regulated industries.
For gambling, allowing an illegal application onto a mainstream store can substantially increase its reach.
Brazil is therefore seeking stronger intervention at the distribution stage.
SPA as the Regulatory Reference
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting is the federal authority responsible for Brazil‘s fixed-odds betting framework.
Apps offering these products should therefore be linked to properly authorised operators.
Verification against the official regulatory framework is essential for distinguishing legal from illegal offerings.
Regulated Market Since 2025
Brazil‘s federal fixed-odds betting market became fully operational in January 2025.
Since then, only businesses meeting the required standards can participate in the licensed ecosystem.
The new regime has also been accompanied by increasing efforts to reduce offshore and unlicensed activity.
Fighting the Illegal Market
App-store enforcement forms part of a broader anti-illegal-gambling strategy.
Brazilian authorities have acted across areas including:
- Websites.
- Mobile applications.
- Payments.
- Advertising.
- Affiliates.
- Technology providers.
The objective is to progressively reduce the channels available to unauthorised operators.
App Stores as a Gateway
Mobile marketplaces are particularly important because they provide a simple route into a service.
For many consumers, appearing in Apple’s App Store or Google Play can create an assumption that an application is legitimate.
Authorities want to prevent illegal gambling products from benefiting from that perception.
Consumer Confusion
Users may reasonably assume that software listed in an official app marketplace complies with national laws.
That assumption can be problematic in regulated sectors.
Removing unauthorised betting products also helps reduce that potential confusion.
Consumer Protection
The government’s intervention is not limited to licensing.
It also aims to protect users from companies operating outside Brazilian requirements.
Licensed operators face rules concerning identification, payments, responsible gambling, advertising and other consumer safeguards.
Illegal providers may not offer comparable protections.
Risks Associated With Unregulated Apps
Unauthorised apps can create risks involving:
- Customer balances.
- Prize payments.
- Operator identification.
- Complaints.
- Responsible gambling.
- Data protection.
- Underage access.
Reducing access to these services forms part of the wider channelisation strategy.
Channelisation Towards Licensed Operators
One of Brazil‘s principal regulatory goals is to increase the share of gambling taking place with authorised businesses.
Licensing alone cannot achieve this.
Consumers must also find it more difficult to access illegal alternatives.
Mobile stores represent an important point of intervention.
Role of Large Technology Companies
The case illustrates the increasingly important regulatory role of major technology platforms.
Apple and Google do not themselves operate sportsbooks, but they control infrastructure used by millions of consumers to discover and install applications.
Governments are placing greater responsibility on such intermediaries when they distribute products belonging to regulated sectors.
More Digital Compliance Requirements
This trend may require app marketplaces to develop jurisdiction-specific compliance procedures.
A betting app authorised in one country may not be legal in another.
Platforms therefore need systems capable of recognising regulatory differences between markets.
Geolocation and Distribution Controls
Digital stores already have the ability to restrict app availability geographically.
The challenge is connecting those technical controls with current regulatory information.
In Brazil, that means verifying which betting operators hold valid federal approval.
Constantly Updated Regulatory Lists
Effective enforcement will also depend on the rapid exchange of information.
Licence status can change through approvals, suspensions and sanctions.
Cooperation between regulators and app-store operators may therefore become an ongoing requirement rather than a one-off exercise.
First Notice Did Not Fully Resolve the Issue
The need for a second intervention is particularly significant.
Authorities had already warned the companies during the first half of 2026.
The discovery of further irregularities indicates that continuous monitoring will be required.
Potential Further Action
Although the latest notices do not automatically impose fines, failure to address the concerns could lead to increased regulatory pressure.
The government will assess Apple and Google’s responses and the safeguards subsequently implemented.
Justice and Finance Ministries Working Together
The case also demonstrates cooperation between different areas of Brazil‘s federal government.
The Justice Ministry is acting through digital-rights and child-protection responsibilities.
The Finance Ministry, through the SPA, determines which betting businesses are legally authorised.
Digital Rights Become Part of Gambling Regulation
The participation of the National Secretariat for Digital Rights illustrates how online gambling regulation now extends beyond dedicated gaming authorities.
The market intersects with:
- Child protection.
- Digital rights.
- Consumer law.
- Technology platforms.
- Economic regulation.
Effective oversight increasingly requires coordination across government agencies.
Industry Context
Brazil continues to strengthen mechanisms supporting its newly regulated betting market.
After implementing a federal licensing regime, the next major challenge is ensuring that unlicensed operators lose access to the channels they use to acquire customers.
Pressure on Apple and Google represents an extension of that enforcement strategy into the mobile-app ecosystem.
Next Steps and Impact
Apple and Google will now have to respond to the government’s notices and explain their mechanisms for checking regulatory approval and user age.
Authorities also expect rapid adjustments designed to prevent applications without SPA authorisation from remaining available.
No immediate fines have been imposed, but the intervention increases pressure on both technology companies to play a more active role in combating illegal betting.
For Brazil‘s regulated industry, effective removal of unauthorised apps could eliminate a significant access point for illegal operators and strengthen channelisation towards federally licensed businesses.
Editó: @fonta
