Brazil’s Ministry of Sports regulates oversight of sports betting websites

On April 4, 2025, the Brazilian Ministry of Sports issued MESP Ordinance No. 31/2025, regulating oversight procedures for websites operated by authorized companies that run fixed-odds betting on real-world sporting events. This is the latest ordinance within the regulatory process that started with MESP Ordinance No. 125/2024, reinforcing the joint supervisory role of the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Finance (via its Secretariat of Prizes and Betting – SPA).

The new ordinance establishes that a specific technical team must periodically analyze the operators’ websites. This team will be coordinated by the Directorate of Sports Betting Evaluation and Oversight, which is linked to the National Secretariats of Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport.

Among the various criteria that MESP Ordinance No. 31/2025 provides for, the following particularly stand out:

• Checks on the commercial trademarks used on the operators’ websites, which must correspond to those registered with the SPA;
• Analysis of the operators’ betting portfolios, ensuring they conform to the list of betting modalities provided for in Ordinance MESP No. 125/2024; and
• Identification of any breaches of current regulations, such as the promotion of unauthorized bets or the lack of effective mechanisms to restrict access to the website by minors.

In the event the technical team detects any problems, it will prepare a report describing the irregularities. This will be sent to the SPA so it may then take appropriate measures.

MESP Ordinance No. 31/2025 also authorizes the development of a sports integrity operations platform, as well as the establishment of partnerships with public and private entities to improve oversight mechanisms – including education institutions, technology companies, and international organizations.

The new rules reinforce Brazil’s commitment to integrity in sports betting, expanding the scope of oversight to the online channels used by licensed operators.

For more information on fixed-odds betting, please contact Mattos Filho’s Entertainment practice area.