Brazil Bans Online Gambling Betting Bonuses

Authorities in Brazil have issued a directive banning all online gambling bonuses, effective immediately.

Order 2,344/2024 was issued 19 November by Senacon – Brazil’s Department of Consumer Protection. The order bans the advertising and/or awarding of any bonuses related to placing online bets. The order also bans advertising of betting products targeted at children and adolescents.

Operators failing to comply with the order face a daily fine of R$50,000.

The ban comes shortly before Brazil’s regulated iGaming market launch date of 1 January 2025 which will add online casino games into the mix.

Operators wishing to secure a license in the newly regulated market will likely be more concerned with staying on side with Brazil’s regulator than the value of the fine itself, which equates to less than €10,000.

Bet365 have wasted not time in notifying all affiliates operating in the Brazilian market to remove any material advertising either betting or deposit bonuses.

“Brazil’s National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), the government department that enforces consumer protection policies, has implemented a ban on betting bonuses effective immediately.

This means that affiliates need to cease the promotion of all bet365 deposit based bonuses including all bet365 Opening Account Offers immediately with immediate effect.”

Brazil’s problem gambling concerns

The decision to legalise online gambling in Brazil is not without its detractors and comes amid a number of studies suggesting many Brazil already has an issue with problem gambling.

In September the country’s Central Bank released findings that 20% of funds provided under its Bolsa Familia welfare program had been used for online bets during August.

Under the Bolsa Familia program, welfare recipients are given a funded debit card, issued by state-owned Caixa Econômica Federal Bank to help pay for essential needs.  Out of the 21 million families on the program, almost 5 million recipients had used their card to place online bets, collectively punting a staggering R3 billion (€490 million) for the month.

Measures have since been taken to ban the use of the Bolsa Familia card for online bets.