Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) and the national telecommunications agency, Anatel, have partnered to accelerate the removal of unlicensed gambling operators from the market.
This collaboration, established through a technical cooperation agreement (ACT) between the two organizations, aims to hasten the shutdown of websites that continue to offer illegal betting services. The agreement’s objectives are to enhance communication between Anatel and the SPA, cut operational expenses, and bolster regulatory oversight of the industry.
The SPA, part of the Ministry of Finance, is tasked with identifying illegal websites and notifying Anatel about them. Following this, Anatel undertakes the technical task of domain removal, aided by internet service providers.
Once Anatel confirms the websites to be blocked, it scrutinizes the account access and connectivity infrastructure associated with the domains to ensure a more comprehensive blocking process. Anatel then notifies the SPA upon completion of the blocking, marking the end of the communication loop between the two entities.
After the Ministry of Finance finalized its list of approved operators in October, ahead of Brazil’s regulated market launch, Anatel began eliminating unlicensed companies from the market. This crackdown, initiated on October 11, has already led to the removal of over 5,200 illegal domains.
Operators who have applied for licenses were permitted to continue operations while their license applications were reviewed. As of now, 101 companies have been included in the approved operator list.
The Ministry of Finance emphasized that any unauthorized operators are disregarding the federal government’s legal framework for the sector and are jeopardizing consumers with financial risks.
Starting January 1, operators targeting Brazil will need to incorporate “.bet.br” in their domains, enabling users to easily recognize them as trusted betting platforms.
Regis Dudena, the SPA’s secretary general, commented on the situation: “Anatel has been a crucial ally as we intensified our battle against illegality. With the ACT, our partnership will become even more seamless and effective, benefiting our country in the effort to eliminate opportunistic and harmful entities from the betting sector.”
Anatel President Carlos Baigorri added: “The agreement facilitates a swift processing flow for blockages. Preventing access to illegal gambling sites is indeed challenging, making this cooperation crucial in ensuring telecommunications service providers promptly execute the blocks. As a state institution, we have the responsibility to counteract illegal activities that disrupt market competition and violate our laws.”
Earlier this week, the Brazilian government announced the formation of a working group comprising 16 members from four departments. This team will collaborate to create a report detailing strategies to minimize gambling-related harm in the regulated market.
For further information, see the original announcement on [EGR Intel](https://www.egr.global/intel/news/brazils-regulator-ramps-up-crackdown-on-unlicensed-operators/).
