Brazil’s federal gambling market will open to regulated operators on January 1, 2025. Law No. 14,790/2023 established the first comprehensive licensing framework for fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, and granted all licensing authority to the Brazilian Gaming and Betting Authority (SPA). Operators seeking legal access to Brazil’s market of 200 million people must obtain a federal gambling license through the SIGAP portal, meet corporate, financial, and technical requirements, and operate in ongoing compliance under the supervision of the SPA.
This guide provides a detailed overview of the complete requirements, cost structure, application process, and regulatory framework for Brazilian gambling licenses in 2026.
| Brazilian Gambling Licenses: An Overview | |
| Regulatory Authorities | Secretariat (SPA) |
| Legal Basis | Law No. 14.790/2023 |
| Marketing | January 1, 2025 |
| License Fee | 30 million Brazilian reais (approximately $6 million) |
| License Term | 5 years, covering up to 3 brands |
| Minimum Reserve | 5 million Brazilian reais |
| GGR Tax Rate | 12-18% |
| Corporate Income Tax | 15% |
| Gambler's Tax | 15% |
| Application Platform | SIGAP Portal |
| Processing Schedule | 8 to 12 months |
| Real Demand | Brazilian Limited Liability Company or SA |
| Local Ownership | At least 20 percent of the shares must be held by Brazilian shareholders. |
| Cryptocurrency Payments | Disabled. Only Pix, Boleto, and credit/debit card payments are accepted. |
| Permitted Activities | Fixed-Odds Sports Betting, Online Casino Games, iGaming Platforms |
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Law No. 14.790/2023 legalizes fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games (iGaming) and brings them under federal regulation. The market will officially launch on January 1, 2025, and the Sports Betting Authority (SPA) will be responsible for matters such as licensing, compliance enforcement, and player protection.
Until 2025, Brazil had no federal legal framework governing online gambling. The 1946 Offenses Act effectively prohibited most forms of gambling. Beginning in 2016, a series of legislative reforms paved the way for the regulation of sports betting, and the final regulatory framework was established through Law No. 14,790 and subsequent regulatory directives issued by the Sports Betting Authority (SPA).
Prior to the official launch of Brazil’s regulatory framework, operators already conducting business in Brazil held provisional licenses (Licença Provisória) and were required to comply with transitional compliance obligations. Starting in 2025, the full licensing system will apply to all operators, with a fee of 30 million Brazilian reais.
Brazil is Latin America’s largest regulated online gambling market. The market characteristics that attract operators are structural rather than speculative.
The projections for Brazil’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) are quite substantial. Analysts estimate that annual revenue at the launch of the regulated market will range from 15 to 30 billion reais. These figures reflect the Brazilian public’s longstanding strong interest in and potential demand for sports betting.
The SPA evaluates applications based on four criteria: corporate structure, financial strength, compliance of the technology platform, and the adequacy of the anti-money laundering/know your customer (AML/KYC) framework. All four criteria must be met in order for a license to be granted.
The operator must incorporate a Brazilian legal entity prior to submitting the application. Acceptable entity types are limited liability companies (Ltda.) and corporations (SA). The registration of a shell company with no actual operations does not meet the requirements of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA).
Specific structural requirements:
Financial requirements include license fees and reserves for ongoing operations.
Gaming platforms must be certified by an SPA-approved testing laboratory in order to obtain a license. Certification covers game integrity, RNG (random number generator) compliance, and platform security standards.
Anti-money laundering and know-your-customer obligations under Brazilian gambling licenses comply with regulations consistent with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements for online gambling in Brazil must be enforced at the account level, not just at the time of withdrawal. Operators must verify a player’s identity before the player begins playing, not just before funds are disbursed.
Cryptocurrency payments are expressly prohibited.The Brazilian Payment Services Act (SPA) prohibits cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals through licensed platforms. Approved payment methods include Pix, Boleto Bancário, and debit/credit cards. Operators that integrate cryptocurrency payment channels into the Brazilian market will face license revocation and fines.
The total cost of a Brazilian gambling license goes far beyond the initial fees. Operators must factor license fees, gross gaming revenue tax, corporate income tax, and player winnings tax into their financial models.
The fixed licensing fee for a federal gaming license can be as high as 30 million reais. This fee covers a license term of up to five years. A single license allows an operator to run up to three different commercial brands across its digital channels, offering significant capital efficiency to multi-brand operators compared to regions where fees are charged on a per-brand basis.
Fees must be paid within 30 days of the operator receiving notification of the application review results, and no extensions will be granted. Failure to pay the fees by the due date will result in the authorization process being permanently archived or the authorization becoming invalid.
| Tax Types | Speed | Basics |
| Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) Tax | 12-18% | After deducting bonuses and income tax, the remaining amount constitutes revenue. Operators retain 82% to 88% of the revenue, with the specific percentage depending on applicable laws and regulations and the year in question. |
| Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ + CSLL) | 15% (with a surcharge applied to the portion of monthly profits exceeding 20,000 reais) | Company's Net Taxable Income |
| Gambler's Income Tax (IRPF) | 15% | Players with a monthly net profit exceeding 2,259.20 Brazilian reais (the threshold is subject to change) |
| Inspection Fee (Taxa de Fiscalização) | Monthly income: 54,419.56 Brazilian reais to 1,944,000.00 Brazilian reais | Statutory fees calculated based on the operator’s monthly revenue/expense tier (rather than the fees determined by the annual SPA) |
The 18% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR) is the most significant recurring expense for operators. Brazil’s tax rate is higher than that of mature regulated markets such as Malta (5% of GGR), but lower than that of the United Kingdom (where the GGR tax rate for remote gambling is 21%). Before deciding to enter the market, operators should estimate GGR taxes based on the expected financial circumstances of their players.
Get started on your journey to starting a business in Brazil with our service packages.
Request a free consultation for your gambling business. An expert will work with you to assess whether Brazil is the best option.
We provide comprehensive support to help your legal entity prepare for full-scale operations.
Considering an acquisition as a route to market? An existing regulated business may offer an alternative to a new application, subject to due diligence and any required change-of-control approvals or notifications.
We maintain a changing selection of regulated businesses available for acquisition across jurisdictions.
Contact us for current availability, indicative pricing and transaction requirements.
The regulatory framework for Brazilian gambling licenses consists of three components: authorizing legislation, the primary regulatory authority, and the operational compliance framework.
COAF (Conselho de Controle de Atividades Financeiras, or Financial Activities Control Council), Brazil’s financial intelligence agency, is the designated anti-money laundering regulatory body for gambling operators. Licensed operators must register with COAF and submit reports of suspicious activity in accordance with COAF’s reporting framework.
Brazil’s Data Protection Law (LGPD, Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados) applies to all companies that process the data of Brazilian residents, including online gambling operators. LGPD compliance runs parallel to SPA compliance and is not managed by the SPA.
Brazil offers operators a legal pathway to Latin America’s largest consumer market, but its licensing costs and compliance burdens are significantly higher than those in offshore online gambling jurisdictions. Choosing the right jurisdiction depends on whether an operator’s primary goal is to enter the Brazilian market directly or to expand into a broader global market at a lower cost.
| Standards | Brazil | Curaçao | Angouleme | Malta (MGA) |
| License Fees | 30 million Brazilian reais (approximately $6 million) | Annual salary starting at $30,000 | Annual salary starting at $25,000 | 25,000 euros or more |
| GGR Tax | 18% | 0% (sublicense) | Low fixed costs | 5% |
| Processing Time | 8 to 12 months | 2 to 4 months | 1 to 3 months | 12 to 18 months |
| Market Access | Brazil alone has a population of over 200 million | Worldwide (where there are many gray markets) | Worldwide (where there are many gray markets) | European Union, Globally Recognized |
| Banking Services | Valid only within Brazil; strictly | Ease | Limited | Strong |
| A local entity is required | Yes (Limited Liability Company or Joint-Stock Company) | 不 | 不 | Yes (EU entity) |
| Cryptocurrency Payments | Banned | Allow | Allow | Regulated |
| Brand Awareness | Regulated Federal Licenses | Widely used, but with limited prestige | Offshore | Strictly regulated and highly reputable |
Operators targeting Brazilian players specifically must hold a Brazilian gambling license. No foreign license grants an operator the right to operate legally in the regulated Brazilian market. Curaçao, Anjouan, and similar jurisdictions allow operators to serve multiple global markets; however, activities targeting Brazilian players without an SPA license constitute unlicensed operations in these now-regulated jurisdictions.
Operators considering incorporating a Brazilian license into their multi-jurisdictional strategy can establish a corporate structure that holds both a Brazilian SPA license and offshore licenses in other markets. ChesaGroup frequently helps operators set up such structures.
For operators that are currently unable to raise 30 million Brazilian reais but aim to attract Brazilian players, a Curaçao or Anguilla gaming license can provide a transitional operational structure. Once sufficient revenue is generated, this can serve as a stepping stone toward applying for a Brazilian SPA license.
ChesaGroup is a global boutique legal and business services firm and a licensed corporate services provider (CSP) specializing in regulatory framework design services for iGaming and FinTech projects. The company’s gaming licensing division provides operators with comprehensive guidance ranging from jurisdiction strategy to SPA licensing and ongoing compliance.
Services provided by ChesaGroup for Brazilian gaming licenses:
The company’s operating model involves assigning a dedicated implementation manager to each client, who is responsible for coordinating all internal experts (legal, compliance, licensing, and corporate management) so that clients need only manage a single point of contact, rather than multiple vendors across jurisdictions.
ChesaGroup’s client base ranges from single-brand iGaming startups to platform operators ranked among the world’s top in terms of transaction volume. The company maintains offices in Poland, Estonia, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Malaysia, supporting operations across more than 50 jurisdictions.
Applications for Brazilian gambling licenses are submitted and managed through SIGAP (Sistema de Gestão de Apostas, or Gambling Management System), the official licensing portal of the Brazilian Gambling Authority (SPA). The entire process, from the initial submission of the application to final approval, takes 8 to 12 months, provided that the applicant is a registered entity and all required documents are complete.
Incorporate a Brazilian entity.Register a limited liability company (Ltda.) or a corporation (SA) with the CNPJ, meet the 20% local ownership requirement, and establish a physical office in Brazil.
Prepare the document package.Compile the company's organizational records, ultimate beneficial owner disclosure information, financial statements, anti-money laundering/Know Your Customer policies, and source-of-funds documentation.
Submit a license application.Please submit the completed application form and all supporting documents through the SIGAP portal.
SPA Audit and Compliance Review. SPAWe will review the company’s financial and compliance documents. Additional information may be requested at this stage.
Pay the license fee.Following preliminary approval of the purchase and sale agreement, a licensing fee of 30 million Brazilian reais will be charged.
License Issuance. SPAOnce a federal license is issued, the operator can begin operations in Brazil.
Ongoing compliance.Obligations include filing monthly gross gaming revenue tax returns, maintaining the player fund reserve, submitting annual compliance reports, and notifying the SPA of any material changes.
Incomplete application materials are the primary cause of processing delays. The SPA will issue a formal Request for Information (RFI), and each request will trigger a recalculation of the review period. Operators can significantly reduce the risk of delays by ensuring all materials are prepared before submitting their application.
Arrange a free initial consultation with our advisory team. We can discuss your questions, review the proposed project and identify regulatory options suited to its objectives and budget.
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