How Can Brazil Balance Global Standards with Local Market Needs?

The panel featured Ana Bárbara Teixeira, Director of Government Relations and founder of ABRAJOGO and AMIG; H.E. Lucimara Batista dos Reis, Consul and Director of Compliance and AML at the Honorary Consulate of Brazil in Malta; and Robert Zammit, Partner at WH Partners.

Panelists explored the next phase in the evolution of Brazil’s betting market, highlighting potential tax adjustments, adaptation of responsible gaming frameworks, and more effective strategies to combat the illegal market. Combining local insights with international expertise, the debate addressed how Brazil can build a robust, sustainable regulatory environment tailored to the country’s reality.

A Market in Transition Brazil’s journey toward a regulated betting market is still in its early stages, but the scale and speed of development make the scenario unique. As Lucimara Batista dos Reis explained: “Brazil is experiencing a moment of transition… gambling has always existed in the country, and today it is moving toward regulation.”

Rather than starting from scratch, Brazil is formalizing an already active ecosystem that now requires structure, oversight, and balance. Unlike more mature jurisdictions, however, the country does not have the luxury of gradual experimentation. “We don’t have much time to get it right,” she emphasized, underlining the urgency of implementing effective policies from the outset.

At the heart of this transition lies a shift in perception. Regulators are not only enforcing rules but also redefining gambling as a legitimate form of entertainment. “Responsible gaming is not punitive, it is educational,” Batista dos Reis stressed, pointing to the need for player protection measures that inform rather than restrict.