Key Highlights
- President Lula enacted Law No. 15,358/2025, establishing regulatory mechanisms to fight unlicensed gambling and organized criminal activity
- Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry now possess authority to mandate account freezes for unauthorized gambling operators
- Banks must participate in fraud detection networks designed to identify illegal gambling entities
- Pix payment system faces new regulatory oversight to block usage by unlicensed betting platforms
- Severe penalties including fines, license revocations, and criminal charges target entities supporting unauthorized operators
Brazil has launched a decisive offensive against unauthorized gambling operations through new legislation granting financial authorities unprecedented powers to freeze accounts and halt transactions associated with unlicensed operators.
On March 25, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved Law No. 15,358/2025, with immediate publication in the nation’s Official Gazette.
Formally designated as the Legal Framework for Combating Organized Crime, the statute is commonly referred to as the “Raul Jungmann Law.”
The legislative measure specifically addresses fixed-odds gambling enterprises functioning without proper governmental licensing. Brazil’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry have been equipped with robust enforcement mechanisms to dismantle these operations through financial channels.
Article 21-A of the legislation mandates that financial institutions, payment processors, and transaction intermediaries freeze accounts belonging to irregular operators upon regulatory identification. Additionally, these entities must prevent any future transactions that would facilitate unlicensed gambling activities.
Safeguards for procedural fairness are embedded within the law. Operators subject to account freezes retain the right to challenge regulatory actions. Bettors who have outstanding balances with blocked operators maintain entitlement to fund recovery.
Information-Sharing Networks and Pix Payment Controls
Central to the legislation is the establishment of compulsory fraud intelligence-sharing platforms. Article 24-A requires banking institutions and payment service providers to participate in interoperable systems engineered to identify persons and organizations operating as unlicensed gambling providers.
These networks enable institutions to exchange intelligence, recognize suspicious patterns, and execute preventative measures including transaction blocks or refusals.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting will manage a publicly accessible registry of unauthorized operators available for institutional consultation.
The law specifically targets Pix, Brazil’s dominant instant payment infrastructure. Article 24-B authorizes the Central Bank to develop specialized regulations governing Pix usage to prevent exploitation by illegal gambling platforms.
Proposed enforcement mechanisms include dedicated transaction classifications for gambling linked to authorized operator registries. Automated screening based on economic activity identifiers and Pix key parameters may filter irregular transactions.
Transaction statements could feature visual indicators when involving gambling operators. Pattern recognition systems to flag suspicious transaction behavior will become mandatory.
Enforcement Measures and Regulatory Obligations
The statute introduces enhanced administrative violations with escalated sanctions. Organizations maintaining commercial relationships with unauthorized operators face monetary penalties, operational suspensions, or complete license cancellations.
Non-compliance with anti-money laundering protocols falls under the expanded penalty framework.
Promoting unlicensed gambling operators constitutes a violation under the legislation. This encompasses digital platforms, social media influencers, and conventional media channels when demonstrable knowledge exists regarding operator authorization status.
Assets confiscated 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 guidelines necessary for implementing the law’s provisions.
Brazil’s legitimate betting industry has experienced significant growth, and this new legislation aims to safeguard licensed operators and consumers from illicit market competition. The statute received Official Gazette publication on March 25, 2026.
