Key Takeaways
- President Lula enacted Law No. 15,358/2025, establishing regulatory mechanisms to fight unauthorized gambling and criminal enterprises
- Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry now possess authority to direct financial institutions to freeze accounts connected to unlicensed betting sites
- Banks and payment processors must participate in fraud detection networks designed to identify illegal gambling operators
- Specific regulations will govern Pix payment system usage to block illegal betting platform transactions
- Penalties including financial sanctions, operating license revocations, and criminal charges apply to entities collaborating with unlicensed operators
Brazil has implemented decisive measures against unlicensed gambling activities through fresh legislation granting financial authorities unprecedented power to freeze banking accounts and halt transactions connected to unauthorized betting platforms.
On March 25, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved Law No. 15,358/2025, with immediate publication in the nation’s Official Gazette occurring that same date.
Officially designated as the Legal Framework for Combating Organized Crime, this legislation carries the alternate designation “Raul Jungmann Law.”
The statute specifically addresses fixed-odds gambling enterprises operating without proper governmental licensing. It equips Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry (Ministério da Fazenda) with enhanced enforcement capabilities to dismantle these operations through financial intervention.
The newly introduced Article 21-A mandates that banking institutions, payment service providers, and financial intermediaries must freeze accounts belonging to non-compliant operators once regulatory authorities identify them. These entities must additionally prevent any subsequent transactions that would facilitate illegal gambling activities.
Due process safeguards are embedded within the legislation. Operators facing account freezes retain the right to challenge these enforcement actions. Additionally, bettors holding outstanding balances with blocked operators maintain entitlement to financial recovery.
Collaborative Fraud Detection and Pix Payment Controls
Central to this legislative framework is the establishment of compulsory fraud intelligence-sharing networks. Article 24-A requires banking institutions and payment companies to integrate with interoperable platforms specifically designed to identify individuals and organizations functioning as unlicensed betting operators.
These networks enable institutions to exchange intelligence, identify questionable activities, and implement preventative measures including transaction blocks or rejections.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting will administer a publicly accessible database cataloging unauthorized operators for institutional reference.
The legislation specifically targets Pix, Brazil’s extensively utilized instant payment infrastructure. Article 24-B directs the Central Bank to establish dedicated protocols for Pix usage that prevent exploitation by illegal gambling platforms.
Proposed enforcement mechanisms include establishing a betting-specific transaction classification connected to an authorized operator registry. Automated screening systems utilizing economic activity identifiers and Pix key analysis may be deployed to intercept irregular transactions.
Transaction statements may incorporate visual indicators when involving betting operators. Platforms must also implement systems capable of identifying suspicious transaction behaviors.
Enforcement Measures and Regulatory Obligations
The legislation establishes fresh administrative violations accompanied by heightened penalties. Organizations maintaining commercial relationships with unlicensed operators risk financial sanctions, operating suspension, or complete license cancellation.
Non-compliance with anti-money laundering protocols falls under these expanded penalty provisions.
Promoting unlicensed betting operators constitutes a violation under this law. This encompasses digital platforms, social media influencers, and conventional media channels when demonstrable knowledge exists regarding an operator’s unauthorized status.
Seized funds from frozen accounts will be allocated to the National Public Security Fund following forfeiture proceedings. This mechanism directly connects financial enforcement actions with public safety financing.
The Central Bank and Finance Ministry bear responsibility for developing operational regulations necessary to execute the law’s mandates.
Brazil’s legitimate betting sector continues expanding, and this new legislation aims to safeguard licensed operators and consumers against illegal market competition. The legislation received Official Gazette publication on March 25, 2026.
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