Brazil’s gambling regulator has confirmed that licensed online betting operators will no longer be allowed to introduce social interaction features that could encourage customers to gamble more or engage in riskier betting behaviour.
The decision was issued by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the body responsible for regulating Brazil’s betting market under the Ministry of Finance. The guidance follows a request from Kaizen Gaming, which asked whether its Betano platform could launch an integrated social environment for registered users.
Betano proposed features allowing customers to share betting slips, highlight favourite casino and slot games, and display gambling wins on their public profiles within the platform. However, the SPA concluded that these functions are not compatible with Brazil’s regulatory framework.
According to the regulator, sharing betting activity between users, even without direct messaging, amounts to a form of social interaction that may influence others to gamble or encourage more frequent and riskier play. The authority also warned that these features resemble engagement tools commonly used by social media platforms, potentially increasing the time users spend gambling.
The SPA’s response, signed by General Coordinator of Betting Supervision Renato Perez Pucci, states that Ordinance SPA/MF No. 722/2024 explicitly prohibits social interaction tools on licensed digital betting platforms. Operators that fail to comply could face administrative enforcement proceedings.
While the ruling blocks social-style engagement features, licensed operators are still permitted to run loyalty and rewards programmes. These initiatives must comply with strict regulations and cannot be designed to encourage increased gambling activity or alter customer behaviour, as outlined in Article 42 of Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,231/2024.
The regulator emphasised that its interpretation applies across the entire licensed betting industry, not only to Kaizen Gaming and Betano. The clarification represents another tightening of Brazil’s “Bets” regulatory framework, following the ban on welcome bonuses and promotional incentives that took effect when the regulated market launched in January 2025.
Brazil’s betting regulations are expected to undergo further review before the end of 2026, as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration and lawmakers continue to push for stronger consumer protection measures within the country’s rapidly expanding gambling market.