Unlicensed gambling on Android devices might take a hit in Brazil, as Google has given the green light for operators to upload apps onto the digital store. Before this dramatic shift, only apps from Caixa Econômica Federal, the country’s bank, were allowed to be uploaded, including apps relating to the lottery and horse racing.
Brazil’s gambling landscape has changed significantly over the last few years, with the country’s government easing up restrictions on it. In 2023, the “Law of Bets” was signed, which brought much-needed regulation to the industry.
Despite some headway, operators and the government have butted heads on how to introduce gambling to the public through regulations. It’s currently in an embittered fight to push the tax rate from 12% to 18%, something the country’s regulator claims will push more people to illicit sites.
Games that acquire a license from Brazil’s watchdog, Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), will need to follow strict rules. If they’re found breaking them, they’ll be kicked off the platform and face any legal consequences. These rules include spending limits, which unregulated offerings will often avoid for maximum profit.
Brazil will now show gambling advertisements, too, again, if they pass the needed requirements. These ads will begin to show up in search results and on the Play Store.
Brazil mostly uses Android
This will affect a large pool of mobile users in the country, as Android reigns supreme in the region. Due to high prices derived from tariffs and taxes on most tech products, Apple devices like the iPhone are considerably more expensive. For instance, an iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage can cost 15,499 real, or $2,822.16, or $1623.16 more than it is on US soil.
A vast majority of the market share belongs to Samsung, which reported prices of its Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge go for BRL 5,698 ($1037.53).
According to reports, over 200 operators now have a license to provide gambling under three domains.
