Brazil moved from years of legal grey area to a fully licensed market for online betting and casino games. Since 1 January 2025 only operators authorised by the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) of the Ministério da Fazenda may serve players in Brazil, on .bet.br domains, with strict rules on identity checks, payments and bonuses. This guide explains how the system works, how to check a site, how payments and self-exclusion work, how winnings are taxed and where to get help.
Is online gambling legal in Brazil?
Yes, at authorised operators. Law 14.790/2023 regulates fixed-odds betting and online games, including casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack. The licensed regime started on 1 January 2025. From that date, only companies with an authorisation from the SPA may offer these games to people in Brazil.
Authorised operators must have a company in Brazil and run their sites on a .bet.br domain. Sites without an authorisation are illegal, and the authorities order internet providers to block them. Advertising unauthorised operators is also prohibited.
You must be 18 or over to play. Players who use authorised sites are not breaking any law.
Who regulates online casinos in Brazil?
The Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA), part of the Ministério da Fazenda, grants authorisations, sets the technical and payment rules through its ordinances (portarias), supervises operators and applies sanctions. It also runs the national self-exclusion platform.
The rules cover identity checks, payments, advertising, responsible gambling and certification of the games. Bonuses and any other prior advantage to attract bettors are not allowed at licensed operators.
How do you check whether an online casino is authorised in Brazil?
The fastest test is the web address: authorised operators must use a .bet.br domain. The SPA also publishes the list of authorised companies, their brands and their websites on gov.br. Checking that list is the reliable test, because a logo or a claim of authorisation can be copied onto any site.
- Look at the web address: it must end in .bet.br.
- Open the SPA's list of authorised operators on gov.br.
- Check that the company and the exact brand and website you are using are listed.
- Make sure the site asks for your CPF and verifies your identity, including facial recognition, before you can play.
- If the site is not on the list or offers bonuses, credit card or crypto deposits, do not register or deposit.
What are the risks of unauthorised online casinos?
Unauthorised sites that accept players from Brazil are outside the SPA's supervision. If a withdrawal is refused, an account is closed or terms are applied unfairly, the regulator cannot take up your complaint, and enforcing Brazilian consumer law against a company based abroad is difficult.
Unauthorised sites are not connected to the national self-exclusion platform, do not apply the Brazilian limits and checks and do not issue the prize statement you need for your income tax return.
- No SPA oversight or complaint route
- Not connected to the national self-exclusion platform
- No Brazilian identity, payment or safer gambling checks
- No prize statement for your income tax return
Which payment methods are allowed?
Licensed operators take payments in reais only, from a bank or payment account in your own name. Pix is by far the most common method, and TED bank transfers and debit cards are also used. Credit cards, cash and crypto deposits are not allowed.
Withdrawals go back to an account registered under your CPF. Because Pix settles in seconds, most of the waiting time comes from the operator's own checks.
How does self-exclusion work in Brazil?
In December 2025 the government launched a national self-exclusion platform at gov.br/autoexclusaoapostas. With a gov.br account at silver or gold level, you can block all your accounts at authorised betting sites at once and stop new accounts from being opened with your CPF. You can choose a period from 1 to 12 months or an indefinite period.
You can still self-exclude at a single operator through its own site, but that applies only to that operator. The national platform also points you to public mental health services in the SUS.
Do you pay tax on online casino winnings in Brazil?
Yes. Under Law 14.790/2023, net prizes from authorised operators are subject to 15% income tax. The tax is calculated once a year on your net result, meaning total winnings minus total stakes across all authorised sites, and only on the part above the annual exemption threshold of the income tax table (28,467.20 BRL for 2025). Losses can be offset only against betting winnings.
Authorised operators must give you a yearly statement of your prizes. If you owe tax, you pay it by the deadline of your annual return. Prizes from foreign sites follow different rules. Check the current rules and amounts with the Receita Federal or a tax adviser.
Where can you get help with gambling in Brazil?
If gambling is affecting your finances, work or family, talk to someone. The public health system (SUS) offers free care for gambling problems through the Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS). Jogadores Anônimos runs free support groups in many cities.
The CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida) offers free, confidential emotional support by phone on 188, 24 hours a day. You can also self-exclude from all authorised sites at once through gov.br/autoexclusaoapostas.
- CVV: 188, free and confidential, 24 hours
- CAPS: free care through the SUS
- Jogadores Anônimos: free support groups
- National self-exclusion: gov.br/autoexclusaoapostas
Myths vs facts
- Myth: Any casino that accepts Pix is legal in Brazil.
- Fact: Payment methods are not proof of an authorisation. Check that the site uses a .bet.br address and appears on the SPA list.
- Myth: Licensed Brazilian casinos offer welcome bonuses.
- Fact: Law 14.790/2023 forbids bonuses and other prior advantages. A site offering them is not following the rules.
- Myth: Casino winnings are always tax free in Brazil.
- Fact: Net annual prizes above the exemption threshold are taxed at 15%, and you report them in your income tax return.
- Myth: Self-exclusion at one site covers all of them.
- Fact: Only the national platform at gov.br covers every authorised operator. Self-exclusion at a single site applies to that site only.
Before you claim
- Website ends in .bet.br
- Company and website found on the SPA list on gov.br
- Age 18 or over and identity verified with CPF and facial recognition
- Deposits only by Pix, TED or debit card from your own account
- Deposit, loss and time limits set before you play
- Prize statement kept for your income tax return
- CVV 188 and gov.br/autoexclusaoapostas saved