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Brazil Mandates CPF Checks to Bar Social-Benefit Recipients From Online Bets

The finance ministry’s rule enforces a Supreme Court directive after Central Bank data showed billions flowing from assistance recipients to betting platforms.

Overview

  • Licensed operators must query the government’s Sigap database by CPF at account registration, at the first login of each day, and recheck all users at least every 15 days.
  • If a user is flagged as a Bolsa Família or BPC beneficiary, the platform must close the account within three days, cancel open wagers, allow a two-day voluntary withdrawal, and then refund any remaining balance; unreturned funds revert to Fies and Funcap after 180 days.
  • Platforms have 30 days to implement the new systems and 45 days to review every existing account against the Sigap database.
  • Noncompliance can trigger sanctions under Law 14.790, including warnings, suspension or revocation, manager disqualification, and fines that can reach R$2 billion per infraction.
  • The industry group ANJL has challenged the approach as exceeding the STF’s scope and warned it could push bettors to illegal markets.