The government of Brazil has officially expanded its list of eSports eligible for fixed-odds betting, and now allows bets on popular eSports such as Fortnite, Counter-Strike, and Valorant.
This historic update was published in a special edition of the Diário Oficial da União, the official journal of the Federal Government of Brazil, and marks a major shift in the country’s current betting framework.
Previously, the only eSports that were considered valid for regulated betting were those recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which back then excluded most shooter games.
Well, the new ordinance issued by the Ministry of Sport now alters Law No. 14.790/2023 to broaden the selection of acceptable eSports betting events.
Under the revised legislation, eSports betting is now allowed on tournaments that have official licensing or authorization from intellectual property holders or from the game developers.
This major change perfectly aligns with Brazil’s wider efforts to regulate and modernize its booming online betting industry.
The Central Bank of Brazil estimates that Brazilians spend somewhere between BRL 20 billion and BRL 30 billion ($5.28 billion) each month on online gambling, with more than 100 operators currently being licensed to operate in the country.
Moreover, this legislation also extends legal betting to include traditional Olympic-style eSports, and this includes both chess and motorsport.
This historic regulatory update highlights the efforts of the Brazilian government to improve its current betting laws in response to the dynamics of the market, after the recent formal launch of Brazil’s regulated betting market.
Consequently, the incorporation of popular shooter games is expected to further drive engagement in the iGaming sector while at the same time ensuring licensing compliance and monitoring gaming activity.
