Stakeholders of Brazil are concerned that the regulator lacks sufficient staff to fight black market growth.
Udo Seckelmann, a local gambling lawyer, told iGB that limited resources are restricting the SPA’s fight. The struggle targets the illegal betting market in Brazil.
A sizeable illegal market continues to hamper Brazil’s licensed betting sector. Broad estimates suggest the black market accounts for between 41% and 51% of the overall market.
The SPA sits within the Ministry of Finance. It has taken steps to fight the issue, yet, some in the industry have raised concerns over resources. This includes manpower.
In December 2025, the TCU, or Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts, gave the Ministry of Finance 120 days to act. The goal was to strengthen the structure of the SPA. This follows a report that highlighted a lack of human resources within the regulator. It noted staff shortages had been exacerbated by insufficient and dated technology.
Seckelmann, head of gambling & crypto at Bichara e Motta Advogados, says the SPA is an excellent regulator. He believes it deserves praise for its achievements so far.
Seckelmann tells iGB that the SPA has performed very well in regulation and in maintaining dialogue with the market. At the same time, they lack people working there. There are not enough people to work in a regulator that oversees this whole market.
He added that he talks to people from the SPA all the time and they all say the same thing, that they don’t have enough people. They needed the government to hire more people.
Even though a recent law change will see the rise to 13% this 2026, before increasing to 14% in 2027 and 15% from 2028 onwards, the gambling tax rate on operators currently sits at 12% of GGR.
