The Betting Law was approved by President Lula in December 2023.

This was one of the biggest milestones in the sports betting and online gaming market: the law was eagerly awaited by the gaming community and the market.

2024 will be a year marked by the release of amendments, which may change the interpretation of some aspects of the law and bring more clarity to points that have not yet been widely publicized.

In this content, we list the main information you need to know about sports betting at the moment .

It is a material that is constantly updated by our team, in accordance with the latest developments in the law and the market.

Can X Can’t

What are your main duties — and rights — when betting? That’s what we explain in the first section of the guide. Check out the most popular questions at the moment!

Can I bet at unlicensed houses in Brazil?

According to the law, no. The rules already published by the Ministry of Finance indicate that only those companies that meet the prerequisites and apply for a Brazilian license will be able to operate in Brazil.

Any company that continues to offer its services with websites hosted abroad and without a national license will be considered illegal. On the brands’ side, fines will be applied and their websites will be suspended.

On the consumer side, anyone who places bets on these sites will be subject to legal liability, as we are talking about illegal sites .

Even if you are not directly monitored, you will not have any type of legal support if you lose your money due to any non-compliance with the rules by the companies.

Can I bet in physical environments?

Yes. The legislation provides for the operation of fixed-odds betting in physical establishments, in addition to online.

It is worth remembering that online casinos have not yet been legalized, so the rule only applies to sports betting!

Can I play Tigrinho, Mines or Aviator?

Yes! The sports betting law also included online casino games . The topic was debated in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for months, as there were groups opposed to the expansion of this modality in the law.

Despite differing opinions, Law No. 14,790, of December 2023, provides that online games will also be allowed in Brazil . This includes Tigrinho, Mines, Aviator and others.

Can I use welcome bonuses to bet?

In 2025, it will no longer be permitted to use welcome bonuses on bets or casino games. The law that regulates the sector already forbade:

According to the Ministry of Finance, in conversation with Aposta Legal Brasil, so-called “entry or welcome bonuses” are prohibited, which are financial advantages offered by betting companies with the aim of attracting new bettors.

According to our analysis (and that of experts consulted by our team), bonuses after registration, such as cashback , will remain active.

Can I bet using credit card and cryptocurrencies?

Also starting next year, you will only be able to bet with PIX, TED, debit or prepaid card, and transfer between accounts at the same institution (book transfer).

Betting with cryptocurrencies , credit cards or bank slips will no longer be allowed .

Taxes and payments

• The amount of tax paid will be 15% on net profits
• Rules come into effect in January 2025

One of the main changes for you, the bettor, is related to taxes . Until now, the scenario was much more nebulous.

See some clarifications and have the peace of mind of avoiding problems with the Lion.

Do I need to declare the amount received from sports betting?

Nowadays , if you received amounts above the IR ceiling, regardless of the source, you must file a declaration and pay the appropriate taxes.

If in one year you earned R$1,000 from sports betting and R$30,639.90 from other sources, the value of the bets must be included in the declaration — since you exceeded the limit.

The declaration must be in the  Income Subject to Exclusive/Definitive Taxation form , in field 12 (Others).

After selecting the chip, you will enter the amounts received from the bets and fill in the CNPJ of the bookmaker that placed your bet.

Now, if you received less than R$30,639.90 in the year, you do not need to complete the IR declaration.

Just be aware of one exception: if you received more than R$2,112 in a month, regardless of how much you earned in the year, you must pay the Carnê Leão.

We recommend that you declare the amounts and pay the tax by the last business day of the month following receipts.

How much tax will I pay when placing sports bets?

The text of the approved Law provides for the payment of 15% on prizes above R$2,259.20.

• IRPF will be levied on net prizes, that is, those resulting from the positive result of a bet. Losses will be deducted!
• IRPF will be calculated annually and paid by the taxpayer until the last business day of the month following the calculation.

As determined by the Aposta Legal Brasil Journalism team , the 15% tax rate on amounts exceeding the first exemption bracket must be collected exclusively at source. This way, the bettor will receive the prize already discounted from tax, without needing to make any additional payment to the IRS.

When do I start paying tax?

Betting houses will start operating under the Brazilian license from January 1, 2025.

From this date onwards, the rule approved in the legislation will be valid. Throughout 2024, new amendments are expected to be approved, which may change the interpretation of some point related to the payment of taxes.

We will update this content as we receive news about betting taxation.

How do I declare money won from betting?

According to financial planner Myriam Lund, winnings from betting must be included in the declaration in the field “Income taxed exclusively at source”.

How will I receive my betting winnings?

Prizes will be deposited into the registered profile when the event ends — or the online game win is settled.

See what the law provides for this payment, with data from Agência Brasil:

Prizes must be paid within 120 minutes, after the end of the event that generated the bets, through a transactional account, that is, created by the brands.

The account will hold the prize amount until it is transferred to the winner of the bet, who will only be able to access the amount through the bank account registered at the time of the bet.

Can I receive betting prizes via PIX?

Yes! In the same way that you deposit via PIX , you will receive the prize in the indicated key.

Pay attention to the rules of each bookmaker: nowadays, bookmakers allow withdrawals to be requested using the same payment method as the deposit.

If the house follows this internal rule, you will not be able to deposit via prepaid card and request withdrawal via PIX.

We advise you to check the terms and conditions before registering to have the correct information.

Obligations of bookmakers

Gamblers don’t live on obligations alone.

In this section, we list the main rules that houses must follow, to contribute to a fair, monitored and safe market for the community.

What should customer service be like?

The May 2024 ordinance defined guidelines for customer service .

The material indicates that the service structure must be located in Brazil, with service in Portuguese. The service will be made available through free electronic and telephone channels, operating uninterruptedly, 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Nowadays, live chat and email are the main electronic support channels. The houses also offer a help center, but this does not have a direct channel with specialists.

The telephone is not so common, but from 2025 it will be mandatory.

How do I know which bookmakers are licensed?

This information will only be released from January 1, 2025. We imagine that the list will be published — and updated — on the Ministry of Finance website, but don’t worry: we have a tool that updates, in real time, the status of betting licenses of more than 140 houses.

Another simple way to know whether a bookmaker has a license or not is by looking at the website’s URL. Betting websites authorized by the federal government must use the domain name “bet.br”  to operate in Brazil.

How should the house ensure the security of my account?

The main measure that guarantees bettor safety was published in Law 14,790:

Only brands that follow technical and cybersecurity requirements will be eligible for authorization to operate fixed-odds betting.

We do not yet know the specific guidelines on this point, which should be clarified throughout 2024, with the release of a new ordinance.

What are the responsible gaming measures?

Companies must establish responsible gaming policies and measures to prevent pathological gambling disorders, as well as adopt codes of conduct and promote ethical advertising and marketing practices.

Furthermore, access by minors under 18 years of age is prohibited, and betting operators must monitor players’ time and spending limits.

Although not all the tools that will be required have yet been defined, the following points have already been clarified by the federal government, in Law 14,790 :

• The player has the right to clear information and guidance on the risks of losing bet amounts and on pathological gambling disorders.
• Operators must display warnings discouraging gambling and warnings about its harmful effects
• Carrying out informative actions to raise awareness among gamblers and prevent pathological gambling disorder

Betting operators must implement effective systems and processes to monitor bettor activity, identifying gambling-related harm or potential harm, including:

• Spending patterns
• Time spent playing
• Gaming Behavior Indicators
• Contact initiated by the bettor
• Using Gambling Management Tools

How will the house ensure that the results were not manipulated?

Houses must hire certifiers duly registered with the Ministry of Finance.

These companies will be responsible for testing and certifying equipment, programs, instruments and devices that comprise the betting systems, live gaming studios and online games used by the brands.

What does that mean?

The certification bodies will operate under strict security parameters, focusing on the integrity of the games and ensuring that the games offered by the houses have not been manipulated by third parties.

Once a year, reports will be issued to validate the betting systems.

The operator must grant unrestricted access to the betting systems, at any time, to the inspection units and agents of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance.

How will I know that my rights are being respected by companies?

From the moment that the houses start to receive the official Brazilian license, it means that they will have followed the prerequisites to operate in the country.

This is the main way to know that you will be betting on a legal house , closely monitored by authorities and inspection institutes.

However, if you feel that any rights have been infringed by brands, you can contact official government channels to report the incident.

Throughout the year, we will have specific ordinances that will mention how brand inspections should be carried out.

License to operate and government actions

As we mentioned at the beginning of the content, the coming months will be marked by a lot of work on the part of the government to clarify the Betting Law and prepare to issue licenses to the houses.

When will betting licenses start being issued?

On May 22, the Ministry of Finance released the guidelines for applying for licenses. Betting houses that submit the application within 90 days after the publication of the material will have the license issued on the same day, starting January 1, 2024.

Throughout the year, the Ministry will respond to the houses whose applications have been approved. The granting fee must be paid within 30 days after the notification of approval of the authorization application by the Prizes and Betting Secretariat.

Who issues betting licenses in Brazil?

The Ministry of Finance will be responsible for taking on the “arm” of sports betting with regard to issuing licenses, monitoring houses, regulation, creating standards and guidelines, among other obligations.

In April, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva published in the  Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) the creation of the Prizes and Betting Secretariat, linked to the Treasury.

How long do licenses last?

Licenses last for five years. After this period, homes must submit a new application and pay the granting fee again.

How much will it cost for houses to obtain a license in Brazil?

The grant will cost R$30 million for up to three brands. Applicants must prove the existence of a minimum financial reserve of R$5 million, in addition to presenting evidence of paid-in capital and net equity, both with a minimum value of R$30 million.

In addition, houses will have to pay 12% tax.

Where does the money from housing taxes go?

The proceeds from the 12% tax will go to the following destinations:

• 2% for Social Security
• 1.82% for education
• 6.63% for sports
• 5% for tourism

Which body will be responsible for supervising betting houses?

The Ministry of Finance, more specifically the Prizes and Betting Secretariat.

Which ordinances will be published in 2024?

According to the Ministry of Finance, twelve ordinances will be issued in the next six months dealing with:

• Betting Systems
• Payment options
• Responsible gaming
• Money Laundering and other crimes
• Sanctions
• Oversight
• Taxation (Federal Revenue/MF regulation)
• Transfers
• Rights and Obligations of Bettors and Operators
• Match manipulation (joint ordinance with the Ministry of Sports)