ANJL Pushes Anti-Illegal Betting Agenda as Brazil Tightens Enforcement

Brazil’s Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) hosted a meeting in Brasília on May 6 focused on governance, market regulation, and the fight against illegal betting operators as federal authorities continue expanding enforcement efforts across the country. The event took place at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada and gathered legal, regulatory, and industry representatives to discuss monitoring systems, anti-money laundering controls, and cooperation between the private sector and government bodies.

The discussions centered on operational measures against unlicensed betting sites and the role of technology in identifying illegal activity. Representatives also presented monitoring tools developed by Ethercity, a company working on tracking suspicious betting operations and digital financial flows linked to illegal operators.

The meeting comes as Brazil increases pressure on the black market following the launch of its regulated betting framework. In April, the federal government stated that authorities had already blocked more than 39,000 illegal betting sites and removed 203 unlicensed betting apps from digital stores. The Ministry of Finance also confirmed the closure of hundreds of accounts linked to suspicious gambling activity.

ANJL has increasingly aligned itself with that enforcement strategy. Earlier this year, the association joined Brazil’s National Pact Against Illegal Markets, an initiative targeting piracy, smuggling, and illicit online activity across several industries. The move positioned the trade body closer to federal agencies and telecom regulators involved in betting enforcement.

The Brasília meeting also highlighted growing concerns around money laundering risks tied to unlicensed operators. Speakers stressed that illegal betting websites continue operating outside Brazil’s tax structure, responsible gambling rules, and financial monitoring requirements, creating what regulators see as the biggest threat to the credibility of the newly regulated market.

For licensed operators, the debate is becoming less about regulation itself and more about enforcement capacity. Brazil already has the legal framework in place. The question now is if authorities can consistently block illegal brands, payment channels, and affiliate traffic at scale.

💡 TGJ Take

Brazil’s regulated betting market now enters its enforcement phase. Licensing rules alone do not protect regulated operators if illegal brands continue acquiring players through local payment methods and aggressive affiliate activity. ANJL’s messaging in Brasília shows the industry understands this risk clearly. For licensed operators and affiliates, the next 12 months will depend heavily on how effective Brazil becomes at removing unregulated competition from the market rather than simply regulating the legal side of it.