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Home / Jurisdictions / Brazil — SPA / Machado Meyer
🇧🇷 Brazil — iGaming Regulation · Law 14,790/2023

Brazil — SPA / Machado Meyer licence.

Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) regulates the newly opened federal betting market — an advisory-model engagement run with Machado Meyer, one of Brazil's leading law firms.

Timeline
10—14 mo
Company + SPA authorisation
Market Size
From ~$7B+
Annual regulated GGR (est.)
Year-1 Cost
From ~$150K
Advisory + govt fees est.
Regulator
SPA
Ministry of Finance
01 — Is this right for you?

A considered route,
not a shortcut.

This jurisdiction rewards operators who treat the application as the start of a supervisory relationship.

A strong fit

When this is the right choice

Global iGaming brands already serving Brazilian players
Brazil's market legalised in December 2023. Operators already running grey-market Brazilian operations now have a clear path to compliance. The SPA authorisation converts existing player bases into a fully regulated operation.
Operators targeting the world's largest untapped regulated market
Brazil is the largest Portuguese-speaking gambling market globally with 200M+ population, high mobile penetration, and passionate sports culture. Year-one regulated GGR is estimated at $7B+, growing rapidly.
Sports betting–first operators with casino expansion plans
Law 14,790/2023 covers both fixed-odds sports betting and online casino under one authorisation. Operators can launch sports first and expand to casino without a second application.
A poor fit

When to consider an alternative

Operators wanting a low-cost entry licence
Brazil requires significant capital, licensed local counsel, physical presence, and government guarantee bonds. Year-one cost is among the highest of any single jurisdiction: ~$150K–$200K+ in advisory and setup alone before government fees.
Operators who cannot meet local substance requirements
The SPA requires a Brazilian-incorporated company with local physical presence. Pure offshore structures or nominee arrangements do not qualify.
Operators needing a 1–3 month licence
Brazilian SPA authorisation takes 10–14 months from engagement to authorisation. Operators needing fast market entry should consider Curaçao or Tobique as a bridge while the Brazilian application is pending.
02 — Licence categories

Permissions under
one Act.

Choosing the right tier and scope is the most consequential decision in the application.

Fixed-Odds Betting Authorisation (B2C)

Covers sports betting and online casino games (slots, table games, live dealer) under one federal authorisation from the SPA. Valid for 5 years, renewable. Issued under Federal Law 14,790/2023.

03 — Path to grant

Phases to licence grant.

Scoping, strategy, and Brazilian entity formation

Months 1—4

GSS Legal conducts regulatory diagnostic. Brazilian company (S.A. or Ltda) incorporated with eligible capital structure. Brazilian licensed counsel (Machado Meyer) engaged for application supervision. AML/KYC and responsible gambling framework drafted.

Application preparation and document assembly

Months 3—6

Full SPA application assembled: business plan, technical platform documentation, AML/compliance policies, shareholder background packs, source-of-funds evidence, all translated into Portuguese.

SPA application filing and review

Months 4—10

Application submitted to SPA. Government authorisation fee and guarantee bond paid. SPA conducts technical review, suitability assessment of principals, and platform audit. Additional queries managed by licensed local counsel.

Authorisation grant and market launch

Months 10—14

Federal authorisation issued for 5 years. 12% GGR tax obligations activated. Operator launches to Brazilian players under full SPA compliance framework. Ongoing quarterly reporting and annual audit required.

04 — Year-one economics

Cost and regulatory
burden.

Year-one spend is dominated by substance — resident director, office, compliance officer, external audit — not the licence fee itself.

Cost itemAmount
GSS Legal advisory + application support ~$100,000–$200,000 (scope-dependent; contact us)
Brazilian company incorporation ~$5,000–$15,000
Government authorisation fee To be confirmed by SPA
Guarantee bond requirement R$30M+ (~$6M+ — can be covered via insurance)
12% GGR tax Ongoing on all Brazilian gaming revenue
Year-1 total (advisory + setup, excl. bond) From ~$150,000

Government authorisation fee and guarantee bond requirements are set by the SPA and subject to change. Bond may be satisfied by insurance instruments. Contact GSS Legal for a current scope and fee estimate.

South America's largest regulated gaming opportunity.

Brazil's Law 14,790/2023 created the region's most significant gaming regulatory event in decades. For global operators already serving Brazilian players, or those planning market entry, the window to obtain a first-mover SPA authorisation is open now. GSS Legal's advisory service — backed by licensed Brazilian legal counsel — covers the full path from strategy to authorisation grant.

Apply now
05 — Common questions

What founders
ask before filing.

The questions we get on every diagnostic call. If yours isn't here, raise it in the consultation.

Federal Law 14,790 (enacted 30 December 2023) creates Brazil's first legal framework for fixed-odds sports betting and online casino gaming. The law establishes the SPA (Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas) as the federal regulator, sets a 12% GGR tax, and requires operators to hold a federal authorisation to legally serve Brazilian players. The law covers both sportsbook and online casino (slots, table games, live dealer) under one authorisation.
In Brazil, applications must be submitted by or in partnership with licensed Brazilian legal counsel. GSS Legal coordinates the full process — regulatory strategy, document preparation, corporate structure, and project management — and works in formal partnership with Machado Meyer, one of Brazil's leading law firms, for the in-country application filings and SPA liaison.
Operators must incorporate a Brazilian S.A. (Sociedade Anônima) or Ltda. The SPA expects at least 20% Brazilian capital participation, though the structure depends on each operator's specific ownership setup. A local physical presence (registered office with real operations) is mandatory — nominee arrangements are not acceptable to the SPA.
Brazil is the largest gambling market in South America and one of the top-10 globally by population reach. Year-one regulated sports betting GGR is estimated at $7B–$10B+ as previously grey operators convert to licensed status. The online casino market adds significant additional volume. With 210M+ population, 70%+ smartphone penetration, and a culture built around football and sports, the market opportunity is exceptional.
This is a legal question specific to each operator's situation and should be addressed in the scoping phase. Generally, operators running on legitimate gaming licences (MGA, Curaçao, etc.) who geo-target Brazilian players are in a different position than fully unlicensed operations. GSS Legal's advisory scope begins with a regulatory risk assessment to map the operator's current exposure and compliance roadmap.
06 — Adjacent jurisdictions

Often considered
alongside this.

Operators rarely choose a jurisdiction in isolation. These are the regimes most often weighed against it — or run in parallel.

Panama — JCJ
JCJ
Cyprus — NBA (Sports Betting)
NBA
El Salvador — LNB
LNB
Costa Rica — MEIC
MEIC
Ready when you are

Tell us where
you want to
operate.

Forty-five minutes with a partner. Jurisdiction memo within seven days. No retainer required to start.

Book a consultation Send us a brief
GSS Legal consultation
45 min
First call with a partner.
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