Brazil's gambling regulator, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), has published new rules that will establish a centralised platform for bettors to
Brazil’s gambling regulator, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), has published new rules that will establish a centralised platform for bettors to self-exclude from gambling sites. The new regulations, detailed in Normative Ordinance No 2,579 and Normative Instruction No 31, are designed to reinforce the SPA’s policies on bettor protection and responsible gambling.
The centralised platform, which is being developed by the Federal Data Processing Service, is expected to be available by the end of 2025.
The system will allow bettors to voluntarily request a block on their accounts. This tool will be flexible, offering players the option to self-exclude from specific operators or apply an all-encompassing block across all federally licensed betting platforms in Brazil. The exclusion can be set for a fixed term or indefinitely.
In addition to the centralised exclusion tool, operators will be mandated to implement mandatory self-limits. These limits, covering both time spent and wagering amounts, must be presented to the player at the time of registration.
The SPA has set clear deadlines for compliance. Operators have 30 days from the 11 November publication to integrate their systems with the new centralised self-exclusion platform.
A longer period of 90 days has been granted for operators to adapt their betting systems, fully implement the mandatory self-limit tools, and update their registration forms accordingly. These tools will allow users to set daily, weekly, or monthly betting limits. Bettors can also choose to receive programmatic alerts about their session time or have their session blocked. A temporary “pause” feature will also be required, allowing users to access their accounts but not place any wagers.
The new measures require operators to diligently verify a user’s status within the centralised self-exclusion database, known as Sigap (Brazil’s betting management system). This check must be performed using the player’s Individual Taxpayer Registration (CPF) number.
The SPA mandates this check must occur at three key points:
If a query reveals a user is marked as “Blocked-Centralised Self-Exclusion,” the operator must immediately block any new bets from that account. The account must then be fully closed within three days. Any remaining funds or the value of open bets must be refunded to the bettor within two days, and the operator must maintain a record of this communication for at least five years.
Crucially, it will be forbidden for operators to conduct any active communication, send targeted advertising, or direct notifications to self-excluded users regarding the possibility of readmission.
These new measures are a core component of the SPA’s 2025-26 regulatory agenda, which was first laid out in April. At that time, the regulator described the implementation of a national self-exclusion platform as the “most important” item on its agenda.
SPA chief Regis Dudena reiterated that player protection is the regulator’s primary concern. “We are giving people the possibility to decide whether they want to temporarily restrict their exposure to betting, in a centralised and secure way, including reducing their access to advertising,” Dudena said. “This is a step forward that puts Brazil in a leading position in the world in caring for our population.”
The SPA’s move to launch a robust, centralised self-exclusion system before the market is fully operational is a significant and highly commendable regulatory step. Brazil is actively learning from the mistakes of mature European markets, many of which (like the UK with GAMSTOP) only implemented such comprehensive systems after years of operator growth and escalating responsible gambling failures.
By mandating this from the outset, Brazil is embedding player protection directly into the market’s foundation rather than treating it as a later addition. The dual requirement is particularly strong: a centralised “all-stop” system (Sigap) combined with mandatory, player-set limits for time and money at the operator level. This creates a critical two-layer safety net for all players from their very first bet.
The compliance requirements are strict and demonstrate a serious approach to enforcement. Mandating checks against the database not just at registration, but at the first login of every day, is a far more robust mechanism than seen in many other jurisdictions. This, coupled with a tight 30-day integration deadline, sends a clear message to operators: there will be no grace period for non-compliance on player safety. This proactive stance immediately establishes a high benchmark for responsible gambling regulation across the burgeoning Latin American market.
