Brazil is once again talking about tighter rules for online gambling. This time, the discussion goes beyond new advertising rules or additional checks.
The government is considering a plan that could ban online casino games entirely.
Sports betting, however, could remain legal.
Nothing has been decided yet. No ban is currently in force, and the final rules could still change.
Why Brazil is considering restrictions
Online gambling has grown quickly in Brazil, and government scrutiny has grown with it.
Officials have raised concerns about how much money people spend on betting, gambling-related harm and the amount of advertising from betting and casino companies.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also criticized the industry several times in recent weeks and called for tighter restrictions.
But shutting down the entire market is not so simple either.
Regulated gambling generates tax revenue, while betting companies spend large amounts on advertising and sports sponsorships.
That is why one compromise now being discussed is to keep sports betting legal while removing online casino games.
Why sports betting may stay
Football is a major part of the discussion.
Betting companies sponsor Brazilian football clubs, competitions and sports organizations. A complete ban could therefore affect not only gambling operators but also the football industry.
One of the options currently being discussed would allow sports betting and football sponsorship deals to continue while restricting online casino games.
That would create a clear split between the two parts of the market.
People could still place bets on football matches, while online slots, crash games and other casino-style games could disappear from licensed Brazilian platforms.
What happens next
For now, nothing has changed.
Online casinos have not been banned in Brazil, and the government is still discussing what the new rules should look like.
There is also no complete agreement inside the government about how far the restrictions should go.
If the casino ban is eventually adopted, it would be a major change for the Brazilian gambling market.
Many platforms currently offer sports betting and casino games in the same account. Operators could be forced to remove their casino sections or significantly change how they operate in the country.
For now, the industry has to wait for the final decision.
WhenYouGetLucky will follow the story and update the information when the final rules become clear.
Source: Folha de S.Paulo
