The Lula administration in Brazil is moving at an accelerated pace to implement a rigorous new age verification framework for the expanding online gambling and digital services sector.
These new rules, expected to be finalized by the end of February 2026, represent the enforcement mechanism for minor-protection laws established in 2025.
A Lockdown on App Stores and Platforms
Federal authorities are currently drafting a decree that will require app stores and digital platforms to utilize “hard” verification methods. This move marks the end of self-reported birthdates as a valid form of age confirmation.
According to the proposed rules, if a platform cannot verify a user’s identity through a trustworthy third-party method, it will be prohibited from hosting or advertising restricted content.
The government is exploring a unified verification system that platforms would be required to integrate directly into their onboarding procedures. Crucially, the proposal also includes privacy safeguards designed to restrict how businesses retain or monitor the sensitive data collected during this authentication process.
This regulatory push is expected to set a new standard for other sensitive online areas, such as adult content and alcohol promotion.
Ending the “Wild West” Era of Digital Advertising
This decree is part of a broader regulatory overhaul that has already seen thousands of illegal gambling sites shuttered across Brazil. Recent court rulings have begun to hold tech giants and advertising platforms legally responsible for the promotion of unauthorized gaming content. Lawmakers are currently reviewing a stack of additional bills that could place even tighter controls on digital services.
For operators, the transition represents a significant compliance hurdle in what is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most lucrative regulated markets. A Lula government official commented on the urgency of the new plan:
“If the platform can’t verify who you are, it can’t gatekeep the prohibited content the government is worried about. The goal is simple: ensure that the protection laws passed in 2025 have actual teeth to protect young people.”
