The Federal Government has recently broadened the scope of eSports and electronic games that are allowed for online betting. This expansion was officially announced in a special edition of the Official Gazette of the Union on Wednesday, the 23rd. The Minister of Sports, André Fufuca, confirmed this initiative to the G1 portal. Brazil’s Betting Regulations
As outlined in the new ordinance, the Ministry of Sports has amended Law No. 14,790/2023 to specify which games are eligible for fixed-odds betting. The revision enables online betting on eSports tournaments, provided that these events have either a “license or authorization from the developers” or “the game’s copyright holders.”
Previously, the government’s regulations limited eligible eSports to those recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Consequently, popular shooter games like Counter Strike, Valorant, and Fortnite were not included in the betting market. The IOC’s list encompassed games such as chess, motor racing, target shooting, cycling, Just Dance, baseball, and tennis.
Vincent Pereira, the IOC’s director of virtual sports and games, explained the exclusion of shooting games, stating, “We cannot have these games promoting Olympic values.” Interestingly, Fortnite made its entry into the 2023 Olympic Esports Week as a sports shooter game, deviating from its typical survival format. Brazil, in turn, has positioned itself as one of the leading gaming markets globally.
According to data from the Central Bank, Brazilians engage in online betting to the tune of R$20 billion to R$30 billion monthly. This surge in online activities is expected to further boost the competitive gaming segment.
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The regulation of online betting in Brazil began with Law 13,756, enacted in December 2018, which set forth the framework for fixed-odds betting. Defined as “bets on real or virtual events in which it is defined, at the time the bet is placed, how much the bettor can win if the prediction is correct,” this law has paved the way for the industry. President Lula signed the law that regulates the online sports betting market in Brazil on December 31, 2023, with the formal regulations taking effect on January 1, 2025.
Only companies that are registered under national legislation and have their headquarters and administration located within Brazilian territory are permitted to operate sports betting. Additionally, the law strictly prohibits individuals under 18 years of age from participating in betting activities. There are also restrictions in place against betting by certain groups, including owners and employees of betting companies, public agents with regulatory responsibilities, individuals with access to the betting system, and those who can influence results, such as sports directors, referees, and athletes, as well as anyone diagnosed with gambling disorder. Brazil’s Betting Regulations
