According to the letter submitted by the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, there are difficulties in meeting the deadlines initially set and that if the period necessary for the presentation is not extended, the regulated companies will be at a disadvantage compared to the illegal ones.
Brazil.- The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) submitted a letter to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance, requesting an extension of the deadline for submitting the necessary documents to access certification until December 30, 2024.
The deadline for submitting the documentation was up to 30 days, starting from November 19, for fixed-odds betting companies that have requested and approved their federal license. "We understand the importance of regulation and are committed to ensuring that the certification process is carried out efficiently and in accordance with the highest standards of responsibility and safety. However, the technical and operational challenges faced by regulated operators have made it difficult to meet the initially established deadlines," argued the president of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, André Gelfi.
The entity maintains that, without extending the deadline, the regulated market will be at a disadvantage, as legal operators will not have their games certified, while the illegal market will continue to operate without restrictions. This harms the competitiveness of operators that comply with the standards and exposes consumers to risks, with unregulated and less secure platforms.
The document indicates that the extension will allow regulated operators to advance in the certification process more adequately, following the best international practices.
"In addition, it will be a further contribution to the fight against the illegal market, in search of fair and balanced competition," said Gelfi.
At the beginning of November, the IBJR published a statement on the front page of three of the country's main newspapers, O Globo, Valor, and Folha de S.Paulo, with the title "To play, there must be rules" which lists the advantages of the legislation approved by the National Congress and the regulations published by the Ministry of Finance, which will come into force on January 1, 2025.
The entity highlights that among other obligations, betting houses will have facial recognition, an essential tool to prevent minors under 18 from betting. Users will be able to set parameters on betting platforms, defining maximum limits of time played, as well as economic losses. Other measures, such as blocking the use of credit cards, have already been planned. These are initiatives designed to help prevent abusive use, curb compulsion, and combat addiction. A new domain termination for Internet Betting will also be adopted, indicating its legitimacy: .bet.br. Only authorized brands will have this domain for better identification by bettors.
See also: Online betting in Brazil: UN body urged to urgently advance towards comprehensive regulation
