Brazil’s betting industry charts its next chapter at BiS Brasília by SiGMA 2026
The second edition of BiS Brasília is currently underway at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada. The two-day event, which started yesterday, gathered some of the most influential voices from government, regulation, sports, compliance, media, and the gaming sector for high-level discussions on the future of Brazil’s regulated betting market.
The program focused on key regulatory challenges and industry developments, featuring prominent discussions on Brazil’s evolving betting and gaming regulations, compliance, responsible gaming, anti-money laundering (AML), and consumer protection, the intersection of sports, media, sponsorship, and gaming, as well as innovation in betting technology, payments, cybersecurity, and player protection.
Opening with a warm welcome from founders Alessandro Valente and Carlos Cardama, and H.E Ambassador of Malta to Brazil and Chile, John Aquilina, the June conference took an in-depth dive into responsible governance and the future of the iGaming and betting market in Brazil.
“Unity among associations, companies, executives – the entire sector – is the only way to change the narrative and public opinion. The main message I want everyone to take from here is one of unity,” shared co-founder Alessandro Valente.
Speaking about the great untapped potential the sector holds, co-Founder Carlos Cardama said that it was essential that all federations and entrepreneurs unite and listen to one another.
“Can you imagine Brazil’s potential with its tourism structure?
Meanwhile, H.E Ambassador of Malta to Brazil and Chile, John Aquilina, spoke of the three-market framework, highlighting how unregulated gambling creates opportunities for criminal activity and consumer exploitation to flourish.
He noted that, despite early criticism, Malta’s success stems from consistently strong regulation.
“Progress was slow and expensive, while others sought the easy way out. But Malta persisted with its stringent regimes, with the hard way of doing things. And now, look at Malta and iGaming. It has the best iGaming structure in Europe and is leading the world – including here in Brazil and Latin America – on how the industry should be managed.”
He went on to praise Brazil, which he says ‘has seen the virtue of tough regulation, good legislation, transparency, and strict control.’ Partnership, he says, is vital.
“Passing a law is one thing, but making it work is something else entirely. To make the law work, you need partners: the government legislators, the technical people implementing and overseeing the laws, and the industry itself working in partnership with the government.”
Speaking on yesterday’s panel, Follow The Money – Integrity, Governance and Anti-Money Laundering Prevention,” Ricardo Saadi, President of COAF (Brazil’s Financial Activities Control Council), highlighted the importance of regulating the betting market in Brazil and the agency’s role in strengthening anti-money laundering measures and increasing transparency in the sector’s financial operations.
The COAF President emphasised that the regulated betting market operates within the parameters established by Brazilian law and praised the BiS Brasilia conference.
“We know that the work being done by BiS is serious work, aimed at bringing integrity to the sector, and that is why I made a point of being here. For the most part, the regulated betting sector follows good practices and complies with Brazilian laws. Furthermore, the market has been consistently seeking mechanisms to prevent money laundering,” he stated.
Saadi was joined by Ana Helena Pamplona, Legal Director of ABRAJOGO, and Matheus Vidal, Head of Legal at Paag. The discussion focused on regulatory advancements, industry challenges, and initiatives that have strengthened and professionalized Brazil’s betting industry.
Notable speakers this year have also included Fabio Macorin, Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), Ministry of Finance, Giovanni Rocco Neto, National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport, Ministry of Sport, Fabíola Esteves, President of LOTERJ, Witoldo Hendrich Júnior, President of ABRAJOGO, José Francisco Manssur, one of the leading legal experts involved in the development of Brazil’s betting framework, Erich Beting, Founder and CEO of Máquina do Esporte, Paulo Saad, Vice President of Grupo Bandeirantes, Fellipe Fraga, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Gaming, and Victor Y. Oda, Head of Products at Serasa Experian.
BiS Brasilia
The event has become a platform for important conversations that call for a more mature, transparent and sustainable future for the regulated gaming and betting market in Brazil. In September, the event makes its debut in Paraíba’s capital, João Pessoa, where it will focus on deepening discussions about state lotteries. Stay tuned for more information.
