Brazilian Sports Betting
Brazilian Sports Betting
| Status: | Grey Area |
|---|---|
| B&M Availability: | Grey Area |
| Online Availability: | Legal |
| Minimum Age: | 18+ |
| Restrictions: | None |
Sports betting in Brazil is a popular, though the Brazilian government bans most forms of wagering on sports. A few times in Brazil’s past, the government lifted restrictions on gambling, but it proved so popular, the Brazilian Senate imposed a general ban. Several attempts to ban online sports betting has occurred, while the Brazilian Senate approved a 2015 online gambling bill (which was vetoed). As the 5th-largest population and the 9th-largest economy in the world, Brazil easily would be a Top 10 sports betting market, if the government lifted its ban.
In this guide to Brazilian sports betting, I’ll provide information on the legality of Brazil’s land-based and online sports betting industries. I’ll also discuss what bettors should consider when selecting an unregulated online sportsbook while discussing the numerous scam artists in the Brazilian bookmaker industry. Ultimately, we recommend Brazilian online sports bettors register with international offshore online sportsbooks if they choose to gamble online.
Brazilian Sports Betting Legality
Brazilians love to gamble on sports. Ironically, Brazil has restrictive laws when it comes to gambling. Though land-based casinos and sportsbooks are illegal, Brazil has one of the most robust illegal sports betting markets in the world. Horse racing remains a favorite way to gamble, while many sports bettors wager on soccer, basketball, and mixed martial arts. Brazil has several popular legal lotteries, but most forms of brick-and-mortar gambling are banned. Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corp has lobbied the Brazilian government to legalize land-based casinos and pledged to invest $8 billion in a casino in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paolo.
Though Brazilian online sports betting is unregulated, online sportsbooks are legal. The sheer number of attempts to ban online gambling shows how prevalent it is. The Brazilian government tried to ban online gambling payments in 2006, 2008, and 2010, but all three attempts failed. An attempt by the Senate was made to ban online sportsbooks in Brazil in 2011, but that measure failed to gain enough support. In 2015, the Brazilian Senate passed a bill which would have regulated and taxed online sportsbooks, while creating 2 new lotteries. Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who later left office after impeachment and removal, vetoed that bill in 2015. Thus, Internet sports betting exists in a legal gray area.
Safety of Online Sports Betting in Brazil
Though Brazilians love to bet on sports, not many legitimate Brazil-based online sportsbooks exist. To bet safely on sports online in Brazil, gamblers need to an international online bookmaker. Luckily, there are over 450 offshore online sportsbooks which accept real money play from Brazil. The safety and security these sites offer are world class, at least if you know which of the 450 online sportsbooks to choose. Here are the factors you’ll need to consider.
Catering to Brazilian Sports Bettors
Online bookmakers which cater to Brazilian sports bettors need to offer South American and European football betting, but Brazilian sports enthusiasm goes well beyond that. Due to the popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitzu in mixed martial arts and the many Brazilian fighters in MMA, a legit Brazilian sportsbook needs to offer many bets on UFC and other MMA associations.
NBA and South American basketball bets are popularity, while horse racing remains a popular sport for Brazilian sports bettors. Sites which support transactions with the Brazilian reais are important, while online sports bets need to be translated into the Portuguese language.
Online Sports Betting in Brazil
A breakdown of what it’s like to bet online sports in Brazil
Top Brazilian Sports to Bet On
Currencies
Languages
These options may not be available at all sportsbooks but represent typical experiences.
Best Brazilian Betting Sites
The best Brazilian betting sites are those which offer safe deposits and reliable withdrawals. Because Brazil’s online sports betting industry has more than its share of scam artists, Brazilian sports bettors need to focus on the reputation of a bookmaker more than welcome bonuses and other promotions. Luckily, a few of the international online sportsbooks offer the full package, so I’ll discuss below the sites which offer bonuses, safe and secure payouts, and a full list of sports markets.
Top Ranked Brazilian Betting Site – Sportsbetting.ag
- Accepts all major credit cards
- Accepts Litecoin, Bitcoin other cryptos
- Large assortment of sports betting markets
- Competitive odds for betting on many sports
- European football specific bonuses offered for the Cup
Why Is Sportsbook.ag The Best?
The SportsBetting.ag betting site offers most of the biggest sports, including Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey (read review). They also have other international sports like soccer, rugby, and cricket. For the avid bettor, you can use their Live Betting to place bets in real-time. Pick from among dozens of different wagers you can place on a single match-up, along with great prop bets.
SportsBetting.ag offers new members plenty of bonuses, like their 50% up to $1,000 in Free Bets using the code “SB1000“. For those that use Bitcoin, can take advantage of their $20 up to $500 Bitcoin bonus using the promo code “BETCRYPTO“. Take advantage of their bonuses, live betting, and incredible sports betting odds with a sign-up bonus of 50% Up To $1,000. Check out Sportsbetting.ag to place bets and win!
Great For Betting On International Sports – Betonline Sportsbook
- Accepts all major cryptocurrencies
- Accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard)
- Posts sports betting odds earlier than others
- Large cash or crypto deposit bonus and endless reloads
- Large bet on point spreads plus other popular sports bets
Why Bet At BetOnline?
BetOnline (read review) is one of the most versatile sites when it comes to deposit options. They accept a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dash. These are by far the best choice for players as they have an extremely high deposit and withdrawal amount.
BetOnline offers loads of year-round promotions for major sports. Their standard deposit bonus is 50% Up To $250 for players on their first deposit (newly signed-up). This deposit comes with a 10x rollover. They also offer several promotions such as $25 live betting freeplay, $50 mobile betting freeplay, and a risk-free $25 play prop bet. Check out BetOnline to place bets and win!
Brazilian Deposits and Withdrawals
Brazilian sports bettors have their choice among a variety of credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, bank wire transfers, web wallets, and e-vouchers. Most of the major payment methods are supported by the reputable Brazilian online sportsbooks. If you cannot find the deposit and withdrawal method you want, it’s probably because the sportsbook you chose isn’t a legitimate global online bookmaker.
Brazilian Deposit Options You Can Use
Brazilian Withdrawal Options You Can Use
Brazilian Sports Betting History
Brazilian gambling history is full of colorful ways to gamble. For at least the past 120 years, a lottery-style game called Jogo de Bicho, the animal game, has been popular. (Jogo de Bicho is similar to Venezuela’s current Los Animalitos lottery game.) Dog and horse racing has been widespread for generations, while bingo halls dot the landscape in major metropolitan areas. Betting on futbol (football or soccer) remains a popular pastime, even if only among friends. Brazilian sports bettors love to wager on European football matches, because so many Brazilian stars play in La Liga, Serie A, or the English Premier League. South American football betting also is popular. Brazilian poker players like Alexandre Gomes, Thiago Nishijima, and Andre Akkari have made Texas Hold’em a popular game in Brazil.
The Zico Law of 1993, also known as Law Decree 981, allowed individual Brazilian states and cities to legalize slot machines, if they chose. The Zico Law was pledged to funnel bingo and slots taxes to pay for sports infrastructure and development. Bingo halls with slots rows spread across Brazil, so the Pele Law of 1998 added regulations to police this gambling. The Pele Law was the popular name for Law Decree 2.574, which allowed bingo halls to house up to 400 slot machines. Law Decree 9.981 in 2002 ended licensing, so no further growth of the industry was allowed. This was followed in 2004 by a Supreme Federal Tribunal ruling that said states only had the right to regulate lotteries. This abolished the Zico Law and Pele Law. By 2007, all bingo parlors and slot machine dens were closed in Brazil.
Brazilian Gambling Resources
Brazil’s gambling industry is restricted to national and state lotteries, as well as horse racing and pari-mutuel betting. Despite several attempts to either ban or regulate online gambling, the pre-Internet status quo remains. Thus, the CCCCN and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture are the government agencies with the most experience in the gambling industry.
| Website | Information |
|---|---|
| Comissao Coordenadora da Criacao do Cavalo Nacional | The Comissao Coordenadora da Criacao do Cavalo Nacional (CCCCN) is the Brazilian national regulator of horse racing, wagering, and related activities. The main venues the CCCCN regulates are the Hipodromo do Cristal in Rio Grande do Sul, along with the Hipodromo da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply | Since 2005, the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry and the Spanish company Codere have partnered to operate a network of racetracks and gambling facilities throughout the world. The Ministry of Agriculture might seem like an odd choice for gaming regulation, but the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry is the leading agency in the world in developing ethanol fuel technology and producing agro-energy, so it is a technologically advanced government agency. |
