Regulatory Radar | Fixed-Odds Betting – Ed. 10
Week of July 27 to 31, 2026
The week had two main threads. On the tax side, the Federal Revenue Service gave operators good news by defining the basis on which PIS and Cofins apply. On the regulatory side, the government opened the public consultation that will rewrite the market’s entry rules. Add to that a Ministry of Health campaign, striking enforcement figures, court decisions on the use of athletes’ images, and mounting pressure from states and municipalities against advertising. Below, what deserves your attention.
Federal Revenue Service confirms PIS and Cofins on betting apply to GGR
The Federal Revenue Service issued two rulings establishing that PIS and Cofins for betting operators apply to GGR — revenue after prizes are paid — and not to everything the bettor deposits. Amounts the law requires to be passed on to funds and entities also fall outside this base. It is guidance that binds the Revenue Service itself.
What this means: A smaller, more predictable tax base. It is worth reviewing how PIS and Cofins have been calculated and assessing whether any overpayment can be recovered.
Government opens public consultation to rewrite the authorization rules
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) opened for public consultation the draft ordinance that will replace the current operator authorization rule. The proposal keeps the R$ 30 million grant fee, limits operators to three brands per authorization, and tightens corporate, financial, and technical requirements. It also sets compliance deadlines — 60, 90, and 180 days — for those already operating. Contributions can be submitted from July 27 to September 9, through the government portal.
What this means: This is the most important regulatory change under way. Licensed operators and applicants should read the draft carefully and consider submitting contributions within the deadline. Several new requirements affect corporate structure and cash position.
Ministry of Health launches campaign against betting, and the government coordinates action across ministries
The federal government sharpened its public-health message. Early in the week (July 26), the Ministry of Health launched a national campaign warning of the risks of online betting and publicizing free mental-health care through the public health system (SUS) — via telecare on the Meu SUS Digital app and in person at health units. The campaign aired on TV, radio, and social media at the start of the Brazilian Championship, precisely when betting houses are major sponsors. And on Wednesday (July 29), a high-level meeting at the presidential palace brought together the Ministries of Finance, Sport, Health, and Justice, the government communications office, and the Attorney General’s Office — a sign of coordination across ministries, a day before the new revenue-allocation rule was signed.
What this means: The government has begun treating betting as a public-health issue, which strengthens the bills tying the sector to funding the SUS and the pressure for advertising limits. A practical note: the self-exclusion platform cited in the campaign blocks accounts, prevents new registrations under the same taxpayer ID (CPF), and cuts off targeted advertising.
Finance Ministry steps up enforcement: more proceedings, fines, and profiles taken down
The sector’s enforcement figures came into focus this week. According to data reported in the press, the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting has opened more than 100 administrative proceedings against operators since 2025, following around 200 inspections that reached most authorized houses, with fines totaling around R$ 11 million. In parallel, the Finance Ministry reported taking down 937 influencer profiles and imposing about R$ 4 million in fines for irregular advertising — much of it tied to unlicensed platforms. There are also dozens of proceedings on self-exclusion, gambling disorder, and the protection of minors.
What this means: Enforcement has moved from promise to routine, focused on advertising, influencers, and player protection. Operators and advertisers should review campaigns, influencer contracts, and self-exclusion mechanisms to reduce the risk of penalties.
Courts order betting houses to remove athletes’ names and images from player-specific markets
A group of athletes obtained injunctions barring betting houses from using their names and images in player-specific markets — such as bets on a specific player’s cards, goals, or fouls. One of the decisions comes from the courts of Minas Gerais. Betano is among the houses named. The decisions are provisional and still subject to appeal.
What this means: It signals the risk of new image-rights lawsuits. Operators offering player-specific markets should review how they use names and images without authorization, to reduce exposure to fines and blocks.
States and municipalities advance against advertising — and the dispute reaches the Supreme Court
The wave of states and capitals restricting betting advertising in public spaces keeps growing. Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Cuiabá already have decrees in force banning ads on out-of-home media and street furniture, and São Paulo is expected to vote on a similar bill right after the parliamentary recess. In Rio Grande do Sul, a tougher state law — with mandatory risk warnings, time-slot restrictions on TV and radio, and protection of minors — takes full effect on August 25, but is already being challenged at the Supreme Court (STF). There, the federal government itself asked for the law to be suspended, arguing the matter falls under federal jurisdiction. The case has become the national test of who may legislate.
What this means: The core issue is jurisdiction: the Union, the states, or the municipalities? Until the Supreme Court decides, the rules vary from city to city and some are already in force. Operators and advertisers running campaigns in public spaces should map each locality and follow the Rio Grande do Sul case closely, as it is likely to guide all the others.
In Congress, a wave of new bills targets taxation and advertising
Even on the eve of the recess, the sector saw new bills filed in the Chamber of Deputies. The most significant would create an additional sector-specific levy on operators’ revenue, aimed at funding the SUS, and ban betting advertising outright, along the lines of the restrictions on cigarettes. For now these are only filings, with no decisions. On the enacted side, the president this week signed a law redirecting part of betting revenue to the Federal Police fund — it changes where the money goes, without creating new obligations for operators.
What this means: The direction is clear: more advertising restrictions and a heavier tax burden. It is worth mapping now the new-levy and total-advertising-ban bills, which would have the greatest impact if they advance after the recess.
Looking ahead
- The public consultation on the new authorization ordinance remains open until September 9.
- The Rio Grande do Sul betting-advertising law takes full effect on August 25 — and its validity is under review at the Supreme Court.
- In São Paulo, a municipal bill restricting betting advertising in public spaces is expected to reach the floor right after the recess.
- At the Supreme Court, the ruling challenging the Betting Law is expected in the second half of this year.
From our team
This week, our partner Tiago Gomes published, in the Espaço Jurídico column of SBC Notícias, an analysis of the strengthened crackdown on illegal betting and the challenges of more effective enforcement in Brazil. The core idea: good regulation rewards those who play by the rules by expelling those who don’t.
Our team is available to discuss the impact of any of these topics on your business.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The analyses reflect the team’s understanding as of the date of publication and may be revised as regulations or case law evolve. For specific guidance on concrete situations, please consult a lawyer on the team. © Souto, Correa Advogados — Betting Regulation Practice.