Coverage of Brazil's regulated betting market: licence awards and revocations, Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas and Ministry of Finance ordinances, advertising and payment rules, and the operators entering or leaving the country.
Brazil’s Supreme Court is preparing to resume its evaluation of the constitutionality surrounding the country's historic betting ban. Magistrates are currently weighing whether to conduct a joint hearing to settle various disputes involving sports betting rules, broader gambling legislation, and municipal lottery operations.
Digital card rip platforms have expanded into a $2 billion business, attracting growing interest from gambling companies seeking to enter the space. The sector has experienced significant momentum, with active users surging 34-fold over the past year from 50,000 to 1.7 million.
Codere Online posted a 31% year-on-year revenue increase for the third quarter, largely propelled by strong performance in Mexico. Despite the financial gains, CEO Aviv Sher maintained a conservative outlook due to shifting regulatory conditions in Spain and Colombia.
Brazil’s National Congress President, Davi Alcolumbre, has extended the validity of the country's betting ban by 60 days, moving the deadline for congressional approval to March 4, 2027. Formalized through Act No. 118, the extension grants lawmakers additional time to resolve disagreements over the proposed prohibition amid a congested legislative calendar.
Codere Group reported strong third-quarter financial results, with gaming revenue increasing 6% year-on-year to €344m and adjusted EBITDA rising 39% to €65.4m. The operator, which focuses on Spanish-speaking markets, hopes the performance will enhance its prospects of securing a buyer following a sale process initiated in March.
Brazil's Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has extended Provisional Measure No. 1,394, which bans betting, for an additional 60 days. The extension occurred despite the relevant joint congressional committee having not yet met to review the measure.
Brazil’s National Congress has officially extended the country's ban on online betting by an additional 60 days. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre signed Act No. 118/2026 to prolong the measure, with the decision published in the federal government’s official gazette on November 11. The extension prolongs operational suspension for operators seeking legal entry into the Brazilian digital gaming market.
Meridian Holdings has committed to remaining in Brazil despite ongoing regulatory and legal challenges affecting the country's gambling industry. The operator acknowledged that the federal ban on online gambling had a significant adverse impact on its third-quarter financial results. MeridianBet's leadership affirmed that the company will explore every available avenue to resume operations in the market.
Brazil's National Association of Games and Lotteries has identified more than 800 Instagram influencers promoting illegal betting platforms via its Legitbet monitoring system. According to the trade association, 73% of the flagged profiles hold audiences between 10,000 and 100,000 followers.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has voiced support for a ban on online betting as Congress reviews Provisional Measure 1.394/2026. The executive measure, which aims to terminate the country's regulated online gambling market by suspending the Bet Law, is currently being treated as an urgent matter by lawmakers.
Playtech has raised its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to over €300m, driven primarily by the rollout of its US product with Hard Rock Digital. However, the supplier cautioned that performance in 2027 will soften due to headwinds including increased UK online casino duties, the shutdown of Brazil's betting market, and heightened competition in the US.
Playtech has cited market strength in the US, Colombia, and Mexico as buffers against recent Q3 trading headwinds from higher UK taxes and online gambling restrictions in Brazil. The London-listed technology supplier informed markets that it now expects to achieve adjusted EBITDA of €300m for 2026. The upgraded outlook reflects confidence in its expanding Americas footprint despite regulatory pressures in other key regions.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) has suspended 19 lower court lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the country's betting ban. The ruling, issued by Justice Luiz Fux, blocks operators from securing judicial authorizations to resume activities pending a definitive judgment. Consequently, betting companies will remain barred from the market until the nation's highest court delivers a final ruling on the matter.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has suspended ongoing legal proceedings surrounding President Lula da Silva’s federal ban on online betting pending a definitive ruling on the measure's constitutionality. Justice Luiz Fux approved an appeal from Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, which aims to eliminate divergent lower-court decisions that had granted betting permissions to certain operators. All related bilateral legal challenges will remain paused until the court issues its final judgment.
The UK government has allocated over £39m in funding from the statutory levy on gambling harms via the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. While major support organizations such as GamCare secured significant grants, the distribution of funds has prompted sector controversy.
Super Group's flagship brand Betway has renewed its Spanish online gambling licence, extending its market authorisation until the end of 2029. The license extension was confirmed by Spain's regulatory authority, the Directorate General of the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ).
CDA Gaming has secured a court injunction against Brazil's MP 1.394, enabling operators Betsul and Casa de Apostas to resume operations. A TRF-3 federal judge provisionally restored the licence, ruling that the abrupt termination of previous authorisations violated principles of proportionality and legal certainty.
Spanish gaming operator Cirsa posted a 35.9% increase in nine-month adjusted net profit to €202.1 million ($226.4 million), supported by a 10% revenue rise to €1.89 billion ($2.12 billion). Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.3% over the period, despite elevated promotional spending and unfavorable sporting margins impacting online betting operations. The performance update precedes an upcoming shareholder vote on the company's proposed merger with Lottomatica.
Sportradar recorded 47% revenue growth in the US market during the third quarter, driven in part by expansion into prediction markets. However, brokerage Freedom Capital Markets noted that regulatory developments in Brazil and the pending divestment of Atrium Sports continue to weigh on the company's outlook.
Brazil's Federal Government has issued a provisional measure establishing the rates for the incoming Selective Tax (Imposto Seletivo) set to take effect in 2027. The measure outlines a phased implementation schedule starting on February 2, 2027, while maintaining the global revenue targets established by the country's broader Tax Reform.
Flutter Entertainment has revised its full-year 2026 outlook downward after posting a $1.15 billion net loss in the third quarter, citing adverse sports results and regulatory restrictions in Brazil. The company trimmed its annual revenue midpoint to $17.61 billion and adjusted EBITDA forecast to $2.49 billion. To offset the downturn, the operator plans to execute $500 million in cost-saving measures.
At SiGMA World Rome, industry executives and regulatory experts criticized Brazil's ban on online betting, warning that unlicensed operators are positioned to be the primary beneficiaries. Panelists questioned the political motivations behind the decision and evaluated the potential for re-establishing a fully regulated market in the country.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court is considering consolidating cases related to online betting, municipal lotteries, and the overarching prohibition of gambling into a single joint hearing. Court President Edson Fachin proposed the combined review during a plenary session assessing ADPF 1212, which challenges municipal-level lottery authorisations.
A three-day Supreme Federal Court hearing regarding President Lula da Silva’s proposed online betting ban highlighted deep divisions across Brazilian commerce, society, and athletics. While concerns over household debt drove support for restrictions, major sports stakeholders, including domestic football bodies and the Olympic Commission, voiced sharp opposition.
CIRSA reported a 12% increase in Q3 revenue alongside an expanding footprint in its casino division. Operating profit rose 6.8% for the period, marking the company's 73rd consecutive quarter of growth, or up 11.1% to €203m when adjusted for costs tied to its proposed merger with Lottomatica. Across the first nine months of 2026, the Spain-based gaming group saw total revenue advance 10%.
Industry representatives have expressed concern that Brazil's betting ban could drive consumers toward unregulated, illegal platforms. Stakeholders warned the shift may also undermine established safeguards designed to combat match-fixing.
Flutter has lowered its full-year 2026 guidance after a 25% decline in adjusted EBITDA during the third quarter. The earnings drop was driven by adverse sports results alongside the financial impact of the operator's exit from the Brazilian market, despite modest quarterly revenue growth.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has held a public hearing addressing the government’s ban on fixed-odds sports betting under Provisional Measure 1.394/2026. Industry stakeholders, sports bodies, and public officials debated the broader economic ramifications, raising concerns regarding lost tax revenue, job cuts, and the potential surge in unlicensed gambling activity.
Grupo CIRSA highlighted the ongoing stability and profitability of its Spanish operations ahead of a 30 November shareholder vote on its proposed merger with Lottomatica SPA. In its Q3 trading update, the operator reported record year-to-date profits of €128m, reflecting a 37% surge in underlying pre-tax profit.
Spain's Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) is participating in SiGMA World Rome to address key challenges in combating illegal gambling across Europe.
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has heard arguments over the federal government's contentious move to ban betting under Provisional Measure 1.394. Industry advocates used the hearing to make the case for an open, regulated market rather than outright prohibition.
Kambi reported increased revenue and profit in the third quarter of 2026 despite headwinds from a post-World Cup slowdown and Brazil's September ban on online gambling. The sports betting supplier expressed confidence that the regulatory setback in Latin America will not significantly compromise its full-year performance.
Brazilian football stakeholders have warned the Supreme Court that the sport will be severely impacted by a pending federal ban on online gambling. Despite these concerns, President Lula and the ruling Workers' Party (PT) maintain that prohibition remains the necessary solution for the country's betting regime regardless of the financial fallout for football.
Brazil has officially signed the Macolin Convention to bolster its efforts in combating competition manipulation and match-fixing. The treaty establishes an international framework to foster cooperation between jurisdictions and safeguard the integrity of sport.
Lottomatica has reaffirmed its position as Italy's gambling market leader as it moves to complete its all-share merger with Spanish operator CIRSA this November. The Milan-listed company reported continued domestic dominance, securing a 31.7% share of the Italian online betting sector as of the third quarter.
Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) is preparing compensation claims for operators impacted by the betting shutdown mandated under Provisional Measure 1,394/2026. The association is organizing both collective and individual legal strategies to seek damages for affected member companies. Simultaneously, ANJL continues to pursue legal measures to overturn the shutdown and resume legal operations.
LOTERJ President Fabíola Esteves has publicly defended the state lottery's regulatory safeguards amid broader national uncertainty surrounding fixed-odds betting in Brazil. Addressing attendees at SBC Digital Brasil Day, Esteves underscored LOTERJ's regulatory framework and proactive enforcement against unauthorized gambling ahead of an upcoming Supreme Federal Court review.
Brazil's betting sector has cautioned that proposed prohibitions on fixed-odds betting could trigger widespread job losses and drive consumers toward the illegal market. Speaking at SBC Digital Brasil Day ahead of an upcoming Supreme Federal Court hearing, industry stakeholders highlighted the financial and regulatory threats facing operators.
Chile's Association of Casinos and Games (ACCJ) has raised concerns over unequal tax treatment between retail and digital operators within the government's online gambling bill. While welcoming the regulatory initiative currently being reviewed in the Senate, ACCJ President Cecilia Valdés warned that disparate tax obligations between sectors remain unresolved.
EGT Digital has launched its X-Nave platform in Spain through a partnership with Hermanos Rubio to power eldoradocasino.es. The deal marks the debut of the platform in the Spanish market and facilitates El Dorado's expansion from land-based operations into online casino and sports betting.