MPF Opens Inquiry Into Federal Betting Oversight
The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) has launched an inquiry into the policies used to regulate online betting under the Lula government.
The investigation began as an administrative procedure aimed at reviewing the routines adopted by the Ministry of Finance to monitor compliance with Laws No. 14,790/2023 and No. 13,756/2018 among companies operating fixed-odds betting.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, the year-long inquiry will also assess how effectively the public health system treats and prevents pathological gambling. According to the Radar column in Veja magazine, the review is intended to evaluate the federal government’s performance in supervising the sector.
The MPF’s decision comes as Brazil’s regulated iGaming market continues to consolidate. At present, 190 platforms hold licences from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).
How Brazil’s Regulated Betting Market Took Shape
Sports betting was legalised in 2018 under Law 13,756 and went through extensive debate in the National Congress before being formally regulated in 2023. Licensed operations began two years later.
The SPA subsequently set out, through ordinances, the criteria and obligations operators must meet. It also established methods for monitoring betting sites, supervising operations and curbing illegal market activity.
Key Legal Framework for Monitoring and Oversight
Several legal instruments define the standards used to monitor and oversee betting operators, including:
- Ministry of Finance Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,225, 31 July 2024 – Regulates monitoring and oversight of fixed-odds betting lottery games and betting operators.
- Ministry of Finance Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,231, 31 July 2024 – Sets rules and guidelines for responsible gaming, communication, advertising and marketing, and defines the rights and duties of bettors and operating agents in the commercial operation of fixed-odds betting under Article 29 of Law No. 13,756/2018 and Law No. 14,790/2023.
- Ministry of Finance Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,233, 31 July 2024 – Regulates the sanctioning regime for the commercial operation of fixed-odds betting.
Additional measures address responsible gaming, advertising standards and bettor protection:
- Ministry of Finance Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,231, 31 July 2024 – Establishes responsible gaming rules and guidelines for communication and marketing, and regulates the rights and duties of bettors and operating agents.
- Interministerial Decree MF/MS/Mesp/SECOM No. 37, 6 December 2024 – Creates the Interministerial Working Group on Mental Health and Prevention and Harm Reduction of Problem Gambling to plan prevention, harm reduction and support actions for individuals and groups affected by problem gambling behaviour.