Brazil bolsters gambling regulation through tech industry collaboration
In a significant move to counter the growing issue of illegal betting sites and their promotional efforts, leading technology companies including Google, Meta, TikTok, Kwai, Amazon, and others have formed a formal collaboration agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Finance and the Digital Council of Brazil. This partnership, aimed at tackling illegal online gambling, will see the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) and these tech platforms sharing information and streamlining takedown procedures for illegal gambling content.
The SPA, Brazil's betting regulator, will work closely with these digital giants to coordinate efforts in identifying and removing unauthorized gambling advertisements and unlicensed betting content from their platforms. This collaboration is designed to address enforcement inefficiencies in Brazil's rapidly growing fixed-odds betting market.
Regis Dudena, president of the SPA, has described this agreement as a necessary step forward in regulating Brazil's fixed-odds betting market. He emphasized that working with these online platforms is crucial and invaluable to effective enforcement of gambling regulations and market integrity.
The partnership also places a strong emphasis on child protection standards in the online space, a new aspect not previously mentioned. The 18-month agreement will involve hiring four temporary staff via Startup Gov.br to support the platform, which handles licensing and data for regulated betting operators.
The partnership was formalized on July 3 at the Ministry of Finance in Brasília, with Regis Dudena noting that cooperation with the digital sector has become increasingly important. Felipe França, executive director of the Digital Council, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, technical expertise, and ongoing dialogue for effective regulation in the digital era.
In addition to the formal collaboration agreement, the Ministry of Finance has also signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services to speed up the development of Sigap, Brazil's main betting oversight system.
This partnership between the betting regulator and digital platforms allows for faster reporting and removal of content that breaches Brazilian law, aiming to protect consumers from harmful, illegal gambling content while allowing licensed operators to remain competitive. The goal is to promote a safe, responsible, and sustainable regulated gambling environment in Brazil.
[1] Source: Ministry of Finance press release, July 2023 [2] Source: SPA statement, July 2023
- The collaboration between the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) and technology companies like Google, Meta, TikTok, Kwai, Amazon, and others will also ensure stricter adherence to child protection standards in the casino-and-gambling sector online, as a part of the 18-month agreement.
- In a bid to create a safe, responsible, and sustainable regulated gambling environment, the partnership between the SPA and technology companies will additionally focus on general news legislation, emphasizing faster reporting and removal of content that violates Brazilian law related to casino-and-gambling, thereby promoting a responsible and ethical online gambling market in Brazil.
