Published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), the list includes a total of 81 licences issued, with 15 definitive licences and 66 provisional ones.

These companies have cleared significant financial and regulatory hurdles, including a mandatory payment of R$30m to the federal government and the establishment of an emergency fund of R$5m.

Among the operators who made the final cut, SuperBet, MGM and SportyBet received definitive licences.

Meanwhile bet365, Betsson, Betano, Caesars and SportingBet, among others, only received provisional licences.

A new era of regulation and oversight

The licensing process is part of a broader effort by the Brazilian government to formalise and regulate the burgeoning online betting market.

Companies authorised to operate nationwide must adhere to stringent requirements outlined in a decree issued by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets.

These rules, approved by Congress, cover a wide range of compliance measures, from taxation to advertising ethics and player protection policies.

Among the key regulations is a mandatory tax of 12.5% on gross monthly revenue, which licensed operators must remit to the government.

In addition, platforms are required to implement robust measures against compulsive gambling and to avoid misleading or abusive advertising. Oversight responsibilities fall to the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets, which has the authority to impose fines of up to R$2bn for non-compliance.

Overcoming certification challenges and delays

While 81 companies secured licenses, the journey was not without hurdles. The Ministry of Finance had initially identified 103 companies as eligible for authorisation.

However, some applicants failed to meet the documentation requirements, particularly the submission of a critical certification verifying the integrity of their platforms. This certification, conducted by independent auditing firms, is a cornerstone of Brazil’s regulatory framework.

The original deadline for submitting the certification was 13 November, but it was extended to 29 November to accommodate delays. Despite the extension, many companies cited bottlenecks among the six authorised certifiers as a significant barrier to compliance.

Companies that missed the extended deadline were excluded from the initial list of approved operators and face an uncertain path to authorisation.

Consequences for unlicensed operators

As of 1 January, any betting platform operating without federal authorisation will be deemed illegal if it offers nationwide services.

Some companies that failed to secure licenses have already indicated plans to pursue legal remedies, arguing that procedural challenges, such as the certification bottlenecks, impeded their ability to comply with the regulations.

Alternatively, operators unable to obtain federal licenses may opt for state-level authorisation to establish localised operations. Despite federal backlash, states such as Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Paraíba, and Maranhão have begun offering licensing processes, with fees ranging from R$2m to R$5m.

The Ministry of Finance has emphasised that companies excluded from the initial authorisation round are not permanently barred. These operators may revise and resubmit their documentation to gain approval in future rounds.

Applications submitted after the 20 August deadline, totalling 271, will be reviewed over the next six months.

In addition to meeting financial requirements, applicants must ensure the licensing fee is transferred from a single account tied to the betting platform, as a safeguard against money laundering and other illicit financial activities.

The licensing process has also brought scrutiny to some applicants. Reports indicate that among the candidates were companies linked to investigations into illegal gambling and other criminal activities, including sexual exploitation.

However, the Ministry of Finance clarified that these applications could still be approved if the individuals under investigation have not been definitively convicted.