WA.Technology’s Weekly iGaming News – Latam Special

April 19, 2024

Welcome to WA.Technology's latest edition of your essential iGaming digest. Each week, we gather significant events and insights from the iGaming world to keep you at the forefront of the industry. You may notice a distinct flavour of South America this week as we share news from across the region. Stay connected with us for specially selected trends and updates on Latam and the rest of the world each week to enhance your iGaming enjoyment.

Brazil – A Regulatory Update

The Ministry of Finance introduced a phased regulatory agenda for 2024 focusing on online gaming and sports betting. The main areas include payment methods, anti-money laundering, and responsible gaming, aiming to provide clarity and legal certainty in the market. The Ministry is also considering forming a working group with state representatives to ensure uniform regulatory standards across Brazil. This initiative aims to avoid discrepancies and conflicts between states. This move will seek to harmonise practices and stabilise the sector nationwide.

Meanwhile, Regis Dudena has been nominated as the new National Secretary of Prizes and Bets by the Ministry of Finance, pending official confirmation. Dudena, a PhD in Law from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and experienced in Public and Regulatory Law, brings a proven curriculum vitae of legal background to the role. 

The Sports Betting Commission of Inquiry (CPI) in the federal Senate will examine sports betting practices, occurring bi-weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays for the next six months, to interview lead stakeholders and review compliance.

Brazil’s Regulatory News Keeps on Coming

The Senate's Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee (CCJ) was due to review Bill (PL) 2,234/22 on Wednesday of this week but has now been delayed with no new date set. The bill proposes legalising river, tourist, and spa casinos, as well as betting on horse racing, Jogo do Bicho, and bingo. The bill emphasises state regulation over currently unsupervised gambling activities. 

The Law 14,790/23 vote for presidential vetoes did not go ahead as anticipated. The vetoes, criticised for potentially driving bettors to the illegal market, include tax provisions on winnings. A new date has yet to be published officially, but some sources predict it will happen before the end of the month. 

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released its 2024 competition regulations, mandating that all betting advertising, including team uniforms, comply with Law 14,790/2023 and Ministry of Finance rules. Operators must declare non-involvement in economic or ethical violations related to sports result manipulation.

Columbia Supports Latam Gaming Regulation Unity

At the recent GAT Expo 2024 in Cartagena, leaders from Fecoljuegos and Cornazar supported Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié's proposal to create a Latin American commission of gaming regulators. This idea seeks to standardise regulations across Latam, ensuring consistency in legality. 

Hincapié highlighted the need for unified approaches to combat illegal activities and promote transparent gaming practices while respecting national sovereignty. Elizabeth Maya, President of Cornazar, noted that the commission's effectiveness depends on regional governments' commitment to the proposal. This collaboration could help to establish a more evenly regulated environment that enhances contributions to public services across all countries involved.

Bolivian Gaming Authority Enhances Regulation

During the 2024 Initial Public Accountability Hearing, Marco Antonio Sánchez Vaca, Executive Director of Bolivia's Gaming Control Authority (AJ), announced the launch of a new app to oversee raffles and enforce regulations against illegal online gambling. Sánchez Vaca also declared a crackdown on illegal gaming operations, with plans to initiate sanctioning processes against unlicensed online gambling activities. 

AJ has already conducted 27 interventions this year to improve Bolivia's gaming industry. AJ also plans to update regulations related to business promotions and gambling and offer training workshops for content creators and businesses to promote transparent legal procedures. The hearing proved successful and was well received, demonstrating Bolivia’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling.

SiGMA Americas 2024 – São Paulo Brings iGaming to Life! 

From April 23-25, 2024, SiGMA Americas will convene at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil. The premier iGaming event will draw over 10,000 delegates, including key stakeholders and decision-makers from around the globe. The summit will feature over 200 speakers, numerous exhibitions, and high-value networking opportunities. As part of the summit lineup, WA.Technology is the headline sponsor of an exclusive, invite-only VIP dinner for industry leaders on 24 April. 

Guests are welcome to meet the WA.Technology team at Stand J115 for the opportunity to explore WA.Affiliates, the company’s latest affiliate platform solution. WA.Affiliates is designed to enhance operational efficiency through real-time analytics and intelligent user tracking that empowers operators, expanding growth and driving traffic with ease.

Book a meeting in advance through WA.Technology's events page or contact the team at hello@watechnology.com.

WA.Technology Weekly

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