A new partnership in Brazil aims to build on the crackdown against illegal betting websites, vowing to remove more platforms in the “shortest possible time.”
The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) and the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA-MF) want to “speed up and optimise” the blocking of sites that operate outside of the new online betting and gaming regulations.
The parties want to create a “fast and direct flow” of information, reduce operational costs and strengthen oversight in the sector.
They aim to build on the 5,200 sites that have already been blocked since October 11.
“The agreement will allow for an agile flow for processing the blockings. We know that it is a challenging task to prevent Brazilians from accessing illegal gambling sites and, precisely for this reason, cooperation is essential so that the blockings are carried out in the shortest possible time by telecommunications service providers,” said Anatel president Carlos Baigorri.
“As a state agency, we have the duty to combat illicit practices that cause competitive imbalances and violate our legislation.”
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets informs Anatel which sites it wants to block, and Anatel then informs internet connection providers.
Anatel then reports back to the SPA-MF on its progress in removing consumer access to the sites.
“Anatel has already been a very important partner, since we intensified the fight against illegality,” said Regis Deduna of the SPA-MF.
“Now, with the ACT [Technical Cooperation Agreement], this relationship will be even more fluid and efficient, which is a gain for the country in the challenge of ridding the betting sector of the presence of opportunistic and malicious groups.”
Brazil's online betting and gaming regulation gets underway on January 1. However, restrictions on advertising were fast-tracked this week.
