Brazil betting regulator awards full licences to another 21 operators
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), Brazil’s primary gambling regulatory body, has announced the issuance of 21 additional online betting licenses as of February 11. This latest round brings the total number of fully licensed operators to 35, significantly shaping the landscape of Brazil’s burgeoning gambling market.
Prior to the official launch of the legalized betting market on January 1, just 14 companies received full licenses, while an additional 52 were granted provisional licenses enabling them to operate under certain conditions as they awaited the final approvals and technical certifications required by the SPA.
Operators with provisional licenses were permitted to conduct their activities within a designated 30-day window that concluded on January 30. This period could be extended by an additional 30 days if operators received the necessary support from certifying entities while still working to fulfill regulatory stipulations.
Notably, since the initial round of licensing, several companies that were initially excluded have gained provisional authorizations. Additionally, seven operators secured preliminary permissions via court orders, underscoring the dynamic nature of the licensing landscape.
With today’s announcement, the count of fully licensed entities now includes a comprehensive total of 173 brands authorized to operate within the Brazilian market, as published in the Official Gazette of the Union.
Expansion of Full Betting Licenses in Brazil
This recent issuance incorporates prominent international operators as well as local brands, with key names such as Kaizen Gaming-owned Betano and Bet365 featured alongside Brazilian entities like Aposta Ganha and Betsul.
The updated roster of new licensees includes:
- KAIZEN GAMING BRASIL LTDA: Betano
- NOVENTMEAR BRASIL S.A: Sportingbet, Betboo
- BETFAIR BRASIL LTD: Betfair
- NVBT GAMING LTD: Anovi
- BETHS DO BRASIL LTD: Bet365
- APOSTA GANHA LOTERIAS LTDA: Aposta Ganha
- LUCKY GAMING LTDA: 4Play, Pagol
- H2 LICENSED LTDA: Seubet, H2 Bets
- SC OPERATING BRAZIL LTD: Avbet, Vivaroc
- DA GAMING LTD: A Casa de Apostas, Betsul, Jogo Online
- SUPREMA BET LTDA: Supremabet, Maximabet, XPBet
- BETESPORTE APOSTAS ON LINE LTD: Betesporte, Lance de Sorte
- BETSPEED LTD: Betspeed
- LEVANTE BRASIL LTD: Sorte Online, Lottoland
- SORTENABET GAMING BRASIL S.A: Sortenabet, Betou, Betfusion
- BRILLIANT GAMING LTDA: Afun, AI, 6Z
- JOGO PRINCIPAL LTDA: Gigabet, QGBet, Vivasorte
- STAKE BRAZIL LTDA: Stake
- OLAVIR LTD: Rivalon
- NEXUS INTERNATIONAL LTD: Megaposta
- BELL VENTURES DIGITAL LTD: Bandbet
Of the 21 entities that received full licenses in this latest announcement, it is noteworthy that 20 previously operated under provisional authorization. The only exception is Betsson, which was granted a provisional license on December 31, yet remains absent from this round of full licenses.
A company representative indicated to iGB that Betsson has until the end of February 2025 to complete the required technical certification for full authorization. “We are in the final stages of this process and anticipate submitting the certification shortly,” the spokesperson stated.
Additions also include a license for Nexus International and its Megaposta brand, valid until February 11, 2030, while the other new licensees will be regulated until December 31, 2029.
Currently, the total number of companies authorized to operate under either full or provisional licenses in Brazil stands at 69, with 34 still pending full licenses. Collectively, these authorized operators have remitted BRL 2.1 billion (£293.9 million / $364.6 million) in licensing fees, with some applicants having secured two licenses each.
Challenges Encountered in the Licensing Process
KTO was among the initial 14 operators to successfully attain full licensing prior to the market’s official launch. CEO Andreas Bardun candidly addressed the hurdles faced during the licensing process in January, stating, “It was quite stressful. I’d say it was the most organized licensing procedure.”
However, he acknowledged the unprecedented nature of this initiative for the Brazilian government, appreciating their commitment as they worked through the Christmas and New Year’s period to facilitate the operators’ licensing.
In response to various setbacks concerning certification, the SPA introduced a new regulatory framework (Normative Instruction No. 3/2025) on January 14, which aims to streamline the certification process and mitigate previous delays. This proactive approach reflects the SPA’s commitment to fostering a robust and compliant gambling market in Brazil.
