Brazil blocks 2.8 million social benefit recipients from accessing betting platforms
The federal government has blocked 2.8 million beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família programme and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) from accessing licensed fixed odds betting platforms in Brazil. The measure forms part of the consumer protection measures implemented within the regulated market and complies with a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) aimed at preventing funds intended for social assistance from being used for online betting.
According to data from the Ministry of Finance, the 2.8 million blocked registrations on licensed betting platforms represent 10.4 per cent of the approximately 27 million beneficiaries covered by the two social assistance programmes. All Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries are now prohibited from opening accounts with licensed operators, while those who already had accounts have had their access to betting platforms suspended.
The restriction stems from a preliminary injunction issued by STF Justice Luiz Fux in November 2024. The decision was later upheld by the full court and required the federal government to implement measures to prevent funds from social assistance programmes being used for online betting, while strengthening existing protections for vulnerable groups.
Data on beneficiaries’ spending
The debate over restricting access to betting platforms for beneficiaries of social assistance programmes gained further momentum in 2024 following the publication of a study by the Central Bank of Brazil analysing transactions made through the Pix instant payment system. The study found that, in August 2024 alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries transferred approximately BRL 3 billion (US$ 608 million) to betting companies via Pix.
According to the study, around 5 million beneficiaries made at least one transfer to betting platforms during that month, with an average expenditure of BRL 100 (US$ 20.27) per person. The Central Bank emphasised that the analysis covered only transactions carried out through Pix and did not include other payment methods, meaning the total amount spent on betting may have been even higher.
The data was used in discussions with the federal government, the National Congress and the Federal Supreme Court regarding the need to strengthen protection mechanisms for beneficiaries of social assistance programmes. Although the study did not conclude that the amounts wagered came exclusively from social benefits, the figures raised concerns and promoted debate over the potential impact of online betting on the income of economically vulnerable families.
Oversight will be continuous
To ensure compliance with the measure, licensed operators must periodically consult the database maintained by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) through the Betting Management System (Sigap), developed by Serpro. Verification is carried out using the bettor’s CPF taxpayer identification number during registration, platform access and periodic checks.
The rules require operators to conduct checks every two weeks to determine whether a user has become a Bolsa Família or BPC beneficiary after opening an account. If the system identifies that the bettor has become a beneficiary of one of the social assistance programmes, the operator must block the account and has up to three days to close it and return any remaining funds to the user.
Data from the Ministry of Finance also show that more than 925,000 people have voluntarily joined the self-exclusion system, a mechanism that allows users to block their own access to licensed betting platforms for either a fixed or an indefinite period. The tool is centralised and applies to all operators authorised by the SPA.
In addition to Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries, Brazilian legislation also restricts participation by other groups, including professional athletes, referees, sports executives and public officials directly involved in the regulation and oversight of the sector.
Regulated market expands control mechanisms
Since the regulation of fixed-odds betting came into effect, the government has continued to expand oversight tools for the sector. These measures include the integration of operators into Sigap, mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, risk behaviour monitoring mechanisms and the blocking of unauthorised operators.
According to information from the SPA and the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), thousands of illegal domains have already been taken offline.
This article was first published on the Portuguese SIGMA News page on 14 July 2026.
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