Banks and influencers may be held liable for taxes owed by unlicensed betting operators
In another measure aimed at combating the illegal betting market in Brazil, a new ordinance published by the Ministry of Finance establishes that financial institutions, payment companies and even individuals who promote unlicensed operators may be held jointly liable for taxes on activities carried out by unlicensed platforms.
The measure was made official through Ordinance No. 1,766 of 17 June 2026, which regulates the joint tax liability established under Complementary Law No. 224/2025. The objective is to prevent betting companies without authorisation from continuing to operate in the country using the Brazilian financial system, while also expanding the oversight mechanisms already employed by the Prize and Betting Secretariat (SPA).
The new rule is part of a series of actions adopted since the beginning of the regulation of the fixed-odds betting market, which came into force in January 2025, when only authorised companies were allowed to offer sports betting and online gaming to Brazilian consumers.
Institutions will have 24 hours to block transactions
The ordinance establishes that banks, payment institutions and companies responsible for financial transfer systems may be held liable for taxes owed by irregular operators if they continue processing payments directed to these platforms after receiving an official government notification.
The communication will be sent jointly by the Prize and Betting Secretariat and the Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil. Upon receiving the notification, institutions will have only 24 hours to implement measures to prevent further financial transactions related to the company identified as irregular.
According to the text, the notification must clearly identify the operator acting without a licence and provide sufficient information for transactions linked to the operation of fixed-odds betting to be interrupted.
In practice, the regulation creates a mechanism similar to those used in other sectors to combat illegal activities: instead of acting exclusively against the operator, the government will target the financial infrastructure that enables the movement of funds. Without resources, there is no operational viability.
Influencers and advertisers may also be liable for taxes
Another noteworthy aspect of the ordinance is the expansion of tax liability to individuals and legal entities that promote unauthorised betting companies. According to the regulation, digital influencers, affiliates, advertising agencies and other parties involved in the commercial promotion of platforms without a federal licence may be held jointly liable for taxes arising from those illegal activities.
In recent years, the participation of celebrities, content creators and athletes in campaigns for foreign operators has become increasingly common, leading authorities and industry bodies to advocate for stricter rules governing gambling promotion.
Although the ordinance specifically addresses tax liability, it reinforces the message that promoting illegal operators may lead to consequences that go beyond possible administrative sanctions.
Financial suffocation strategy
The initiative is part of a strategy the government has described as a process of “financial suffocation” of the illegal betting market. Since October 2024, the SPA has maintained a technical cooperation agreement with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to identify and block websites operating without authorisation in Brazil.
According to data released by the secretariat, more than 50,000 illegal domains have already been blocked since the partnership began. The agency also reported that it is developing a virtual laboratory to accelerate the identification of irregular platforms and reduce the time required to take them offline.
In addition to website blocking, monitoring also extends to digital advertising. So far, enforcement actions have resulted in the removal of 780 social media profiles, 306 publications considered irregular and 190 unauthorised betting applications. The work is carried out in cooperation with the National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (Conar) and the Digital Council of Brazil, an entity that brings together some of the leading technology companies operating in the country.
Combating the illegal market has become one of the government’s priorities following the entry into force of Brazil’s regulated model. For authorities, reducing the flow of illegal betting activity is essential not only to increase tax collection, but also to ensure that consumers are protected by responsible gaming rules, anti-money laundering measures and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Self-exclusion exceeds 650,000 requests
Alongside enforcement measures, the Prize and Betting Secretariat is also seeking to strengthen initiatives related to responsible gaming. In December 2025, the agency launched the Centralized Self-Exclusion Platform, allowing users to request, through a single procedure, the blocking of access to all betting operators authorised by the federal government.
The most recent figures show that the tool has already recorded more than 650,000 self-exclusion requests. Most users opted for an indefinite exclusion period, while a smaller proportion chose fixed periods, with twelve months being the most common interval.
The platform represents an important change in the Brazilian model, as previously each operator maintained its own voluntary exclusion systems. With the process centralised, the government is able to monitor user behaviour more broadly and measure the reach of player protection policies.
The new ordinance demonstrates that the Executive Branch intends to increase pressure on all parties that, directly or indirectly, support the activities of illegal betting operators. It remains to be seen how banks, fintechs, digital marketing companies and content creators will adapt their internal processes to comply with the new requirements. The short timeframe for interrupting operations and the possibility of being held jointly liable for tax debts are likely to encourage greater caution in dealings with operators without authorisation to operate in the country.
This article was first published on the Portuguese SiGMA News page on 19 June 2026.
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