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Read Full BioAll Brazilian online betting companies must register with a state-run complaints platform, the government has announced.
In a joint statement, the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Finance wrote that “all online betting” operators “must be registered on the Consumidor.gov.br platform.”
The government bodies wrote that this was now “one of the requirements” for betting firms “operating in Brazil.”
New Rules for Brazilian Online Betting Operators
The regulatory agencies added that betting companies’ “compliance” to platform protocols would let “several bodies” in the National Consumer Defense System (SNDC) “follow and monitor complaints.”
This step, they claimed, would help “guarantee greater security and reliability” for the online betting sector.
The Brazilian government launched the SNDC in 1997. It is overseen by the Senacon and comprises the nation’s Consumer Protection and Defense Program (Procons), as well as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, and the Consumer Defense Offices.
The Special Civil Courts and Civil Consumer Defense Organizations are also members.
How Does The Consumidor Work for Betting Firms and Customers?
Betting enthusiasts can use the platform to check that online betting operators are officially registered with the government and authorized to operate in the nation.
The agencies said customers could use the platform as a resource to avoid placing bets on unregistered websites.
The Consumidor platform lets consumers file official complaints against registered betting operators. After consumers post their complaints, operators must respond within 10 days.
Complainants can then evaluate these responses in a 20-day period. They are also prompted to note whether the operator has resolved their complaint.
They can also rate their level of satisfaction with the operators’ response to their complaints.
National Consumer Affairs Secretary Wadih Damous was quoted as stating that the new “directive” was “pertinent.”
Damous commented: “Mandatory registration on Consumidor is a fundamental step. It will ensure that gamblers’ rights are respected. Brazilians now have a direct and efficient channel to register and follow up on their complaints. This will bolster the balance in consumer relations.”
The head of the nation’s designated betting sector regulator also welcomed the move.
Régis Dudena, the Head of the Secretary of Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) at the Ministry of Finance, said the new compliance measures “reinforce the importance of transparency” in betting companies’ operations.
Dudena said that the Ministry wanted to “ensure that all practices are carried out in accordance with legal standards.”
Earlier this year, the SPA announced it had issued 21 new licenses to online betting firms, bringing the number of permit-holding operators to 173.
The same body also launched a public consultation in February, which wrapped up on March 27.
The SPA was created in early 2024. It has since indicated its intention to step up its control over the Brazilian online gambling sector.
Among its plans for future regulatory changes is a review of the rules surrounding commercial promotion and advertising.
The body also said that it intends to improve existing enforcement procedures.
