SENACON, Brazil’s National Consumer Secretariat, has issued an order banning all customer incentives—such as bonuses and sign-up offers—in connection with gambling activities.
Under Order No. 2,344/2024, SENACON has prohibited any advertising of rewards like upfront payments, bonuses, or promotional offers designed to encourage betting. This restriction applies nationwide and covers promotions, marketing, or any advertising aimed at facilitating bets.
The order also mandates the suspension of advertisements for fixed-odds online betting games that target children and adolescents.
Gambling operators must submit a transparency report within 10 days, detailing the steps taken to comply with these new rules. Operators failing to meet these requirements will face a daily fine of R$50,000 (approximately €8,000).
Scope of the Ban
The measures apply to all operators seeking to participate in Brazil’s regulated betting market, as defined by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF).
Vitor Hugo do Amaral Ferreira, SENACON’s director and consumer protection advisor for the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, signed the directive, reinforcing Brazil’s stance on consumer protection.
Ordinance on Payments
This ban builds on Ordinance No. 615, issued earlier by the SPA and Ministry of Finance, which already prohibited welcome bonuses and sign-up incentives. The ordinance states:
“Operators are forbidden to grant, in any form, advancements, bonuses, or prior advantages, even for promotional purposes, related to betting.”
Next Steps in Market Regulation
In related news, Regis Dudena, President of the SPA, confirmed that final licensing procedures for betting operators are underway. By the end of December, qualified operators will be announced. These operators will then have 30 days to meet final authorization requirements, including paying an upfront R$30 million (€5 million) concession fee and passing platform certification checks.
This move marks a significant tightening of regulations in Brazil’s emerging betting market.
