Brazilian regulator puts in place self-exclusion programme for online gambling
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA-MF) has published Ordinance SPA/MF No. 2,579 and Normative Instruction SPA/MF No. 31, which reinforce policies to protect bettors and promote responsible gaming in the fixed-odds betting market.
The new regulations govern the self-exclusion mechanism. This measure can be adopted in two modalities: specific self-exclusion, applicable only to one operator; and centralized self-exclusion, which blocks access to all authorized betting platforms nationwide.
“We are advancing the protection of individuals, which is the central concern of our Secretariat and Minister Fernando Haddad,” said the Secretary of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance, Regis Dudena. “We are providing the possibility for individuals to decide if they want to temporarily restrict their exposure to betting, in a centralized and secure manner, including reducing their access to advertising. This is a significant advancement that places Brazil at the forefront of the world in caring for our population.”
Normative Instruction No. 31 defines the technical procedures for integration into the Betting Management System (SIGAP), granting a deadline of 30 days for betting companies to implement user verification mechanisms against the centralized self-exclusion database, blocking access and refunding bettors any available funds in their accounts.
In addition to the 30-day implementation period for self-exclusion, there is a 90-day adjustment period for companies to make necessary technical adjustments to impose mandatory prudential limits. As a result, the platform is expected to be available to bettors by the end of this year.
“The advancement in protecting bettors is a milestone for the maturation of the betting sector in the country, with Serpro’s technology once again ensuring transparency, security, and social responsibility, always in compliance with data protection regulations and principles of digital sovereignty,” stated the president of Brazil’s Federal Data Processing Service (Serpo) Alexandre Amorim.
Ordinance No. 2,579 also establishes that betting operators implement mandatory prudential limits on time and wagered amounts at the moment of bettors’ registration on their sites.
