Brazil releases list of 89 approved operators following market exit deadline
Operators that didn’t apply for a licence had until 1 October to exit country ahead of regulated sports betting and igaming market launch in January 2025
Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has confirmed 89 operators will be allowed to remain live in the transitionary window before the regulated online sports betting and igaming market goes live on 1 January 2025.
The 89 operators, which will be allowed to run 193 brands over the next three months, were confirmed by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the sector’s regulator housed within the Ministry of Finance.
Notable names on the list include Kaizen Gaming’s Betano brand, as well as Superbet with its Superbet, MagicJackpot and LuckyDays brands.
Entain will stay live with Sportingbet, while Flutter’s Betfair and PokerStars subsidiaries will also remain accessible to Brazilians.
Flutter acquired a 56% stake in NSX Group last month, with the company permitted to continue to operate its flagship Betnacional brand, as well as MrJack and PagBet.
LeoVegas Group will retain its LeoVegas and Royal Panda brands in the country during the window, with parent company MGM Resorts International having partnered with media giant Grupo Globo to launch a JV in the market.
Betsson will also continue to operate in the South American market, as will bet365 and Betway.
SPA chief Regis Dudena said: “This measure provides greater security for society and for companies that want to operate properly in Brazil. With this, we protect the mental and financial health of players.”
The SPA said it will release a definitive list of companies authorised to operate in the regulated arena when the transition period closes on 31 December.
Companies operating until the end of the year will have to pay BRL30m (£4.2m) for a licence, which will be valid for five years. Licensed entities will be required to use the bet.br URL from 1 January.
Operators yet to have applied for a licence were initially given a deadline of 1 October to wind down operations and leave the Brazilian market, with websites being fully removed from 11 October onwards.
Such firms will only be allowed to resume after obtaining permission from the SPA.
Brazil’s government confirmed last month that 113 operators had applied for a sports betting and igaming licence before the initial 20 August deadline.
Those that had applied for a licence had until 30 September to inform the Ministry of Finance of respective trademarks and planned internet domains to be used during the transition period.
The Ministry of Finance said that companies that requested a licence but were not yet live in the market would have to wait until January to launch.
The Brazilian government added that new licence requests can be made at any time, with the Ministry of Finance having up to 150 days to respond to requests.
As of 7.30pm local time on 1 October, 184 licence requests had been registered with the Ministry of Finance.