Brazil legalized sports betting in 2023 with a law authorizing online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks, and setting a minimum age of 18 to participate. The new Brazil sports betting law established a litany of much-needed regulations to govern sportsbook operators, protect consumers, and generate tax revenue for the state.
Previously, Brazilian sports fans could only bet online with unlicensed offshore operators not bound by local regulations. Under the new regulatory framework, fans can use Brazilian betting sites that are legal, secure, and subject to government oversight.
Brazil Betting Sites
The best Brazilian sports betting sites offer a mix of professional, amateur, and esports markets under licenses issued by the government and monitored for security.
Licensed operators must comply with extensive regulations covering everything from responsible gambling to technical operating standards. Naturally, OnlineBettingSites.com strongly advises fans to use licensed Brazilian sports betting sites exclusively.
Here are the key things bettors need to know about betting on sports in Brazil:
- Fans must be 18 or older to bet on sports
- Operators may apply for licenses to offer sports betting online or at land-based sportsbooks in Brazil
- Brazilian betting sites may offer wagers on professional sports, amateur sports, and esports as long as the athletes in any league are not exclusively minors
- Sportsbooks must give bettors at least 90 days to claim their payouts from winning wagers
Below are overviews of our recommended Brazilian betting sites, followed by a straightforward explanation of Brazil’s sports betting laws.
22Bet Brazil
- Read more: 22Bet Review
22Bet has been active in the Brazilian sports betting market for several years and offers one of the industry’s most diverse wagering menus, spanning everything from football to competitive esports. In addition, 22Bet offers in-play betting on a similarly extensive range of sports and leagues, including niche competitions bettors won’t find anywhere else.
The 22Bet football betting catalog provides thousands of daily betting markets for international competitions, Brasileirão Série A, Copa do Brasil, and more.
22Bet Brazil hasn’t yet stated whether it will apply for a license under the new regulatory regime, but either way, it is an experienced and well-regarded online sportsbook that supports Portuguese and accepts a wide variety of deposit methods, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Bet365 Brazil
- Read more: Bet365 Review
Bet365 is Brazil’s most popular online sportsbook in terms of customers served and total wagers placed daily. Some of its highlights include a long track record (founded in 2000), hundreds of in-play betting matches on offer each week, and a level of customer service that surpasses all other Brazilian sports betting sites.
Additionally, Bet365 Brazil caters well to the local market by highlighting hometown teams, accepting Brazilian real deposits, and offering its website in Português.
Bet365 Brazil deposit methods and limits:
- Visa and Mastercard: R$20 to R$100,000
- Pix Instant Online Banking: R$30 to R$20,000
- Boleto Bancário: R$30 to R$20,000
- Caixa Online Banking: R$30 to R$20,000
- Bradesco: R$30 to R$20,000
- Banco Original: R$30 to R$20,000
- Santander: R$30 to R$20,000
- Banco do Brasil Online Banking: R$30 to R$20,000
- Itaú Online Banking: R$30 to R$20,000
- Banrisul Online Banking: R$30 to R$20,000
- AstroPay: R$30 to R$40,000
- Click to Pay: R$20 to R$25,000
- Wire Transfer: R$1,000 to R$80,000
Brazil Online Sports Betting Deposits and Withdrawals
Licensed Brazilian betting sites offer numerous deposit methods that allow customers to deposit and withdraw reais safely and securely. Available types of deposit methods in Brazil include credit cards, debit cards, instant bank transfers, e-wallets, and cash-based methods.
Bettors can get started by selecting a secure online sportsbook, signing up for an account, and choosing a deposit method from the cashier. In most cases, Brazilian sports betting sites process deposits instantly, so there’s no wait between depositing and placing wagers.
Some of the most popular online betting deposit methods for Brazilians include:
- Visa and Mastercard (credit and debit)
- Instant bank transfers
- Boleto Bancário
- AstroPay
Brazil Sports Betting Laws
Law No. 13,756 legalized sports betting in Brazil, while Provisional Measure 1,182 contains additional regulations governing licensed operators. Together, the initial law and subsequent regulations provide the legal basis for sports betting and all the rules operators must follow to maintain their licenses.
The National Secretariat for Games and Betting under the Ministry of Finance is responsible for regulating Brazilian online sportsbooks, issuing licenses, and monitoring licensees for compliance with all relevant laws.
Operators must apply for licenses to offer sports betting in Brazil, and foreign operators are welcome to apply. Some of the licensing conditions include having the financial means to offer sports betting, passing criminal background checks, and having the technical expertise to manage a sports betting operation properly.
Responsible Gambling and Advertising Rules
Brazilian sports betting sites must adhere to advertising restrictions that require them to promote responsible gambling and prohibit them from purchasing sports broadcasting rights. Similarly, sports organizations and athletes may not advertise sports betting brands on their
Other marketing rules require operators to ensure their advertisements do not promote sports betting as a way to solve personal problems, an alternative to having a job, or a way to achieve financial security.
Operators are also prohibited from targeting minors with ads or suggesting fans can win consistently with skill.
In addition, licensed Brazilian sports betting apps and websites must comply with marketing standards established by the National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (CONAR)
Brazilian Sports Betting Integrity and Consumer Protection Rules
All licensed Brazilian betting sites must have contracts with integrity monitoring bodies to detect and investigate suspicious betting patterns that may be indicative of fraud, collusion, or corruption.
The following individuals may not participate in sports betting:
- Anyone under 18
- Federal employees involved in regulating sports betting
- Owners, administrators, and employees of licensed operators
- Anyone else “with significant influence” of a licensed operator
- Anyone with access to sportsbook operators’ computing systems
- Coaches, athletes, referees, league officials, and others who could influence the results of sporting events
- Brazilians enrolled in national credit protection registries
- Any other category of person defined by the Ministry of Finance
Brazil Online Betting Taxes and Licensing Fees
Brazil sports betting taxes and licensing fees heavily burden operators and fans, and some lawmakers have vowed to reduce current tax rates. However, the following taxes and licensing fees remain in force today:
- Operators pay an 18% tax on revenue
- Licenses cost R$30 million
- Customers pay a 30% tax on winnings
The 18% tax on operators allocates revenue to specific causes as follows:
- 10% to support social security
- 3% to the Ministry of Sports
- 2.55% to the National Public Security Fund
- 1.63% to clubs and athletes upon whom operators offer wagers
- 0.82% to basic education in Brazil
How Brazil Legalized Sports Betting
Legalizing online sports betting in Brazil was a long process. The road to regulation began in 2018 when Brazilian lawmakers approved a law authorizing retail sportsbooks and online sports betting.
The government had two years to adopt all necessary regulations to govern the industry, but that took longer than expected. After granting itself an extension, the Secretariat of Evaluation, Planning, Energy, and Lottery (SECAP) published the rules governing licensed sports betting operators in 2022.
Former president Jai Bolsonaro had until December 2022 to sign off on the regulations, but he opted not to during his term. President Lula sped up the process during his term and signed Provisional Measure 1,182 into law in July 2023, officially legalizing sports betting in Brazil.
Brazil Horse Racing Betting
Brazil legalized pari-mutuel horse racing wagering in 1984 and is home to a thriving horse racing industry. Four major race tracks highlight live horse racing in Brazil, with Hipódromo da Gávea hosting the nation’s most prestigious races, including the Brazilian Triple Crown.
In fact, Brazil is home to multiple Triple Crown series, each consisting of three races. The two most prominent Triple Crowns occur each year in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo:
Rio de Janeiro Triple Crown
- Grande Prêmio Estado Do Rio De Janeiro
- Grande Prêmio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado
- Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul
São Paulo Triple Crown
- Grande Prêmio Ipiranga
- Grande Prêmio Jockey Club de São Paulo
- Grande Prêmio Derby Paulista
Readers can learn more about the most prominent Brazilian horse race tracks, see the latest results, and plan their visits at each venue’s official website below:
- Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro
- Cidade Jardim Racetrack in São Paulo
- Hipodromo do Cristal in Porto Alegre
- Hipódromo do Tarumã in Curitiba
In addition, fans can visit legal horse racing betting sites and countless off-track betting facilities (OTBs) to bet on races held in Brazil and abroad. Most major Brazilian sports betting sites offer horse racing markets each day, and two local jockey clubs operate somewhat limited horse racing betting platforms.
Bet365 is the best option for online horse racing betting in Brazil because it provides the most comprehensive international racing coverage. Fans can visit Bet365 to bet on races hosted worldwide in the fixed-odds or pari-mutuel wagering formats.
However, Brazil’s jockey clubs provide more in-depth coverage of the local racing circuit. Fans who want to bet on horse races worldwide should consider Bet365, while fans who closely follow the local scene should visit one of the jockey club websites to bet online.
Bet on horse races in Brazil online today at:
- Bet365 Brazil Horse Racing
- Brazilian Jockey Club Online Betting Platform
- São Paulo Jockey Club Online Betting Platform
Brazil Sports Betting FAQs
Mike Murphy is the founder of OnlineBettingSites.com and has over 10 years of experience in the legal online betting industry. A regular attendee of industry trade shows and conferences, Mike is a strong proponent of regulated markets and responsible gambling policies.