Work has officially commenced in Brazil to deepen the establishment of a monitoring project of the country’s gambling sector.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has penned the project as a vital moment for the formation of the gambling sector.
In a bid to form the most effective group, it is made up of representatives from 17 federal agencies, including the Federal District and 16 state governments.
The forum, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Brasília, aims to unify protocols on authorisation, supervision, enforcement and responsible gambling safeguards.
Speaking at the event, SPA Secretary Regis Dudena underpinned the importance of the group’s formation: “This initiative allows us to present the efforts we’ve led since last year, but also to benefit from the experiences and insights of state-level stakeholders.”
Dudena lauded the impact of the market so far, as he detailed that tax and licensing revenue from regulated betting operations reached R$3bn (approximately €520m) in the first six months of the market.
Previously speaking to SBCNoticias, he said: “If we compare how it was until December of last year, where there were not many criteria for this [regulation], with now, we objectively have something to say: that today we have a much larger number of people who are entertaining themselves in an environment regulated [by] authorized and legal agents.”
Highlighting the needs of the sector, he added: “As we have some needs in the sector, such as responsible gaming, but also combating money laundering and others, the idea is that, in order for [state lotteries] to be able to enter the system, there must be a minimum level of compliance with the rules.
“So, this minimum level will enable the states to enter. What are these minimum levels? That is what we are discussing.”
The implementation of a national self-exclusion register is also likely in the coming months, and is set to be a key part of Sinapo, enhancing player protection and the toolbox available to players in the country.
The SPA stated that the platform is being designed to protect both the financial and mental well-being of Brazilian players and will become a mandatory tool for all market participants.
An initial meeting of the newly formed group placed a specific focus on core regulatory topics, including licensing procedures and anti-money laundering measures.
As the group continues to evolve, its focus will develop on defining the crucial compliance efforts that must be adopted by state operators to participate in the system.
Crucially, the SPA reiterated that municipal lotteries will not be included in the system, as current Brazilian legislation does not authorise their operation. No date has yet been confirmed for the next meeting, but the SPA’s regulatory agenda targets to begin the initial implementation of Sinapo by the end of 2025.
