Brazil Advances Bill to Strengthen Gambling Harm Controls
Brazil is moving closer to a coordinated national strategy as lawmakers seek stronger oversight across the betting industry.
A fresh legislative effort has pushed gambling harm to the forefront of political discussion. Federal Deputy José Guimarães has submitted Bill No. 5,817/2025, which aims to establish a nationwide system for identifying, preventing and responding to gambling addiction. The proposal comes as Brazil’s regulated betting sector continues to expand, heightening calls for more robust consumer protections across licensed operators.
The bill outlines an integrated national framework involving health, finance and regulatory authorities. Under the plan, the Ministry of Finance would take the lead in defining new advertising requirements that operators must follow once the rules are updated.
New responsibilities for fixed-odds betting operators
The proposal assigns operators a central role in monitoring player behaviour and intervening when warning signs appear.
Fixed-odds betting companies would be required to set up reporting channels for users who show indicators of compulsive play. Operators would also need analytical tools capable of detecting risk patterns, assessing betting behaviour and triggering intervention when necessary.
Mandatory weekly messages about loss limits would ensure customers receive regular information about their betting activity. Platforms would also be obligated to introduce automatic exclusion mechanisms that activate when harmful indicators emerge or when a user asks for enhanced protection.
These measures are intended to standardise minimum national requirements and strengthen oversight across all operators, regardless of their scale.
Stronger user protections through spending controls and exclusion tools
The bill adds new safeguards designed to give players greater control over their accounts.
Users would be able to set firm spending caps and access remote self-exclusion options. These features would operate both at the operator level and through a national system that centralises exclusion for all licensed platforms, a system expected to go live by the end of 2025.
The proposal also directs government agencies to support scientific research aimed at identifying risk factors and improving early-detection models. Lawmakers argue that stronger research capabilities will be essential as Brazil’s betting environment evolves.
The Chamber of Deputies must still assign committees before the bill can progress and no timeline has yet been set for analysis.
Consistency with recent SPA regulations
Brazil’s broader regulatory reforms continue to move toward layered player-protection mechanisms.
Many aspects of the bill mirror rules set by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA). Those regulations introduced a two-tier voluntary exclusion model: one embedded directly within operator systems and another functioning as a national platform that blocks access to every authorised operator.
Licensed companies must provide direct access to the central system and clearly communicate self-exclusion options during registration and account management. Users must also be able to define daily, weekly or monthly limits on losses and playing time.
One of the strictest SPA requirements echoed in the new proposal is the ban on providing credit or financing to bettors. Authorities see this as a fundamental safeguard to prevent vulnerable users from escalating risky behaviour.
Operators have ninety days to align their platforms with these directives. After that period, all users will be required to update their identification and tax information to maintain access to betting services.
A shifting landscape for Brazil’s regulated betting market
The proposal represents another move toward a market shaped by rigorous oversight and measurable protections.
Brazil’s transition to a regulated betting industry has opened new opportunities for operators, investors and sports partners. At the same time, lawmakers face pressure to build systems capable of safeguarding millions of users entering licensed digital environments.
Bill No. 5,817/2025 elevates gambling harm as a national priority and introduces new layers of accountability for both operators and government institutions. Whether the bill advances quickly or becomes part of a broader, long-term debate, it sends a clear message: Brazil’s future betting sector will be judged not only by revenue, but by the strength of its risk-management measures.
What protections will ultimately define the next phase of Brazil’s regulated online gambling market?
