The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) has just released a document with 15 principles for responsible gaming and player protection. The goal is to demonstrate the commitment of the members to apply in Brazil the best practices adopted globally. Representing 75% of the Brazilian market, the IBJR shows with this measure a focus on combating distorted information.
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) establishes a set of essential principles to ensure consumer protection in online betting activities in Brazil. All signatories and members of the IBJR, representing about 75% of the Brazilian market and applicants for licenses under Law 14.790/23, commit to adhere to these principles in their operations and to encourage third-party affiliates, such as content creators, influencers, and social media profiles, as well as brand ambassadors, to adopt them whenever applicable.
This commitment reflects the importance of promoting a safe and responsible environment for all players. Next, the institute clarifies the directions for the betting ecosystem to function in a regulated, healthy, and safe market.
Principles of responsible gaming
One of the main focuses is the [1] protection of minors and individuals barred from participating in the games. For this, the member companies of the IBJR implement strict measures aimed at preventing access by unauthorized individuals. Additionally, we adopt operational and educational actions to [2] combat the manipulation of results, in conjunction with the respective sports and governmental authorities, national and international sports integrity bodies, and thus, detect, prevent, impede, and if necessary, assist in the penalization of manipulation of results and sports events.
“The principles represent the commitment of the betting house operators, members of the IBJR, who currently hold 75% of the Brazilian market. These principles and all responsible gaming programs, prevention of sports results manipulation, and prevention of money laundering are imperative for the long-term sustainability of the market, especially the regulated market”, highlights Martin Lycka, SVP of regulatory affairs and responsible gaming at Entain and one of the founding members of the IBJR.
The companies follow strict standards and collaborate with the competent authorities to ensure the integrity of operations, and [3] prevent money laundering and fraud. All organizations commit to [4] work only with third-party providers that are duly licensed in Brazil or that seek to be licensed according to current legislation.
Another important aspect is [5] providing clear and accessible information to consumers on how to gamble responsibly, customer service, and other support means, including allocating part of the expenses to the creation of educational campaigns and [6] promoting a unified national free help line for those who need support. The companies strive to ensure that their [7] advertising practices are socially responsible, avoiding the use of minors in campaigns and using representatives who comply with the laws.
The IBJR provides customers [8] tools to gamble responsibly, including, among others, [9] self-exclusion tools, financial and other account limits, as well as betting histories of customers. The entity believes in the importance of [10] encouraging players to set budgets and [11] limits for their bets, avoiding the pursuit of loss recovery, and viewing gambling as entertainment and not as a means to financial success.
“We, at the IBJR, have been developing and launching these best practices inside and outside Brazil for a few years now. The current offerings of these operators already respect these principles. These consumer protection policies and programs have already been helping our clients and partners, including football clubs and other Brazilian sports entities. To ensure the sustainability of the market, the members of the IBJR are committed to the Brazilian public in ensuring that our customers, when using our sites, are properly protected against external risks related to sports betting”, concluded Martin Lycka.
The [12] approach of shared responsibility is fundamental, and the Institute commits to collaborating with legislators, experts, and treatment organizations to promote responsible gaming. Just as we support [13] research and consumer protection initiatives based on evidence, which reaffirms the companies' commitment to integrity and safety in the online betting games sector.
The IBJR also acts in the [14] continuous training of employees, through training on responsible gambling, sports integrity, and AML, at the time of hiring and subsequently, regularly, in order to incorporate the culture of consumer protection into our businesses. Finally, the IBJR assumes the [15] commitment to continuously evaluate and monitor our respective consumer protection programs and initiatives.
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) was born from the union of the Groups bet365, Flutter, Entain, Betsson Group, Betway Group, Yolo Group, KTO Group, Rei do Pitaco, Novibet, LeoVegas, Kaizen Gaming, and SkillOnNet with the goal of fostering debate on the regulation of this segment in Brazil, contributing information to advocate for the creation of clear rules so that sports betting companies can operate legally, protecting the interests of players and civil society.
Currently, in addition to igaming and sports betting companies, the IBJR includes among its members payment companies such as Grupo OKTO, Pay4Fun, and OneKey Payments, media groups such as Better Collective, the agency Clever Advertising, the sports marketing company Volta Pra Marcar, and the anti-fraud solutions company, GeoComply.
Founded in 2023 by the leading betting houses of the global iGaming industry, the IBJR was the first group in this sector to establish itself in the country and place responsible gaming, sports integrity, and player protection as its mission. The founding houses operate on five continents, which represents about 75% of the offshore online betting and gaming market.
Source: GMB
