In Brazil, betting sites are the second most visited on the internet ahead of YouTube

Since June 2025, the authorised betting sites, the ‘.bet.br’, have grown exponentially, and have become the protagonists in the national digital scene. The volume of accesses places these platforms in 15th place in the global ranking, but on Brazilian soil they already occupy the second position, surpassing giants such as YouTube, Globo.com, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

The figures for the gambling market may be even more impressive. The data in SimilarWeb's report only reflects traffic from authorised betting sites, i.e. platforms legally recognised and authorised by the Betting and Premiums Office (SPA). It therefore excludes sites that have not complied with Brazilian regulations but insist on operating illegally in the country.

According to a study commissioned by the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling (IBJR), these illegal platforms are responsible for a considerable part of the sector: it is estimated that between 41% and 51% of betting in Brazil still takes place outside the regulated environment. The research, conducted by LCA Consultores based on data from the Locomotiva Institute, indicates that Brazil loses up to R$10.8 billion a year in tax revenues due to these unlicensed activities.

In addition to financial losses, the operation of illegal platforms raises serious consumer protection concerns. According to the study, 78% of gamblers claim to have difficulty distinguishing between legal and illegal sites, and 46% have already deposited money on platforms that were subsequently identified as fraudulent.

These figures highlight the challenge Brazil faces in consolidating a safe, transparent and legally compliant gambling environment. Among the measures required of licensed bookmakers, online gambling can only be paid by PIX, transfer or debit, as a way of limiting the potential for player indebtedness.

In response to this challenging scenario, the federal government, through the SPA, signed a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian Digital Council, an entity that brings together representatives of the major technology companies operating in the country, such as Google, Meta, TikTok, Kwai and Amazon.

The main objective of the agreement is to intensify the fight against illegality in the fixed odds betting market, especially in the digital environment and on social networks. The partnership provides for the creation of bilateral communication channels between the SPA and digital platforms, enabling swift notifications of content that violates the law and facilitating its removal.

The agreement also provides for coordinated actions to protect minors and ensure that gambling advertising respects legal guidelines. For Regis Dudena, Secretary for Prizes and Gambling at the Ministry of Finance, this cooperation is essential to strengthen inspection and enforcement in the digital environment, with permission only for authorised gambling.

In the same vein, the executive director of the Digital Council, Felipe França, highlighted that this coordination of application providers is an unprecedented step, brought about by the regulation of a sector as influential and sensitive as online gambling.

‘The agreement with the SPA stems from the understanding that the regulation of fixed odds betting, especially in the digital environment, requires not only rules, but also technical cooperation, institutional coordination and permanent channels of dialogue,’ he underlined.

By Joao Macedo