Brazil Officially Legalizes Online Gaming

The government of Brazil has officially legalized online gaming in the country, as the rules of the industry were published in the country's Gazette newspaper.

The requirements and legalities of the industry were published in the Gazette, and operators will have a 90-day window to apply for gaming licenses. Verbiage in the Gazette shows that online slot machines, table games, poker, and sportsbetting will be available when the market goes live. Skill games will not be allowed, but crash-style games will be as long as the game's result is luck-based.

A minimum RTP for players of 85% will be required, and players will have to win the top prize of a casino game within 100 million events. Gaming sites will have to provide payout tables on all possibilities of wins before the first bet is placed. Games also cannot show the highest advertised prize on screens unless it was won on the spin before.

The live dealer vertical will be allowed, but they must have a location within Brazil that has security in place to ensure fair play. Game developers will have to have a gaming license by a licensing organization that Brazil recognizes as legitimate.

Credit card and cryptocurrency funding of player accounts will be banned, and player winnings will be taxed at a 15% rate if they eclipse BRL2,824.

A date for the launch of the industry isn't firmly in place, but the government expects to issue licenses this year. Thus far, only the brands Big Brazil, Sportingbet, Betano, Rei do Pitaco, and Superbet have applied for licenses, which is much smaller than the amount that was expected to apply.

Casino Listings News is following the launch of the market and will be updating readers as appropriate.