The media has echoed concerns from various sectors, including finance and retail, about the impact of betting expenses on Brazilians’ finances. Yes, it’s true that the amount wagered has grown over the past five years, as it has in many other countries.
Since 2018, when sports betting was legalized in Brazil, thousands of sites have emerged. Many have disappeared, but a significant number continue to operate—often with little regard for fairness, compliance, or long-term business viability.
The primary reason for this influx of unregulated sites has been the delay in regulation. The previous government did nothing to regulate the sector for four years. This situation would not be happening if regulation had been enacted earlier. The current government, on the other hand, is building the regulatory foundation with vigor and essential collaboration with operators.
The destructive criticism from some sectors mentioned at the beginning of this article makes a fundamental error. Condemning the betting market as a whole risks placing reputable operators on the same level as those who operate only for easy profit, without following any rules.
Thousands of operators lack concern for their players’ profiles, including age, economic status, or emotional state. Betting is not a livelihood, nor is it a path to fortune. It is merely a form of entertainment. Gambling has always existed in Brazil.
The first lottery dates back to 1784. In the 1970s, the Sports Lottery drew lines outside lottery agencies. And, just as today, 50 years ago, some also predicted these bets would lead Brazilians to ruin.
But it’s important to emphasize that today’s detractors, often misinformed, raise a grim possibility by criticizing the system: a return to illegality. This would mean that only unregulated betting would survive. If legal, regulated gambling were banned, the illegal market would take over. In this case, current critics of a system about to be controlled and monitored would have to contend with the uncontrollable.
As of early September, the Ministry of Finance had received 113 applications for licensed operations in Brazil. When these companies start operating under the new rules from January 1, 2025, the system will work to suppress sites without the bet.br domain, leading to a market purge.
Until then, it is important for current critics to rethink their messages. Firmly supporting regulation and maintaining only those operators in the market who already prevent underage betting, the use of credit cards, and deceptive promotions; who do not mislead bettors with promises of instant wealth; and who use compliance tools to prevent economic crimes is the way to combat harmful practices.
Therefore, the solution lies in supporting sound regulation, as unfounded criticism will only lead us to a grim scenario.
Plínio Lemos Jorge
Attorney and President of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL)
