TLDR
- Betting irregularity reports sent to Brazil’s Ministry of Finance fell from 91 in March to just 11 in April and nine in May
- Pay4Fun obtained the data using Brazil’s Access to Information Law
- The Ministry says the drop reflects a change in reporting channels, not fewer irregularities
- A new law shifted some reports through interoperable anti-fraud systems instead of direct submissions
- The government plans to update reporting rules to give financial institutions more clarity
Brazil’s Ministry of Finance saw a drop in betting irregularity alerts during the second quarter of 2026. The numbers came from data obtained by payments company Pay4Fun.
Pay4Fun used Brazil’s Access to Information Law to request the figures. The request revealed a sharp change in reporting patterns.
In January, financial institutions filed 86 notifications. That number rose to 88 in February and peaked at 91 in March.
Then the count fell fast. April saw only 11 notifications, and May had just nine.
What the Numbers Show
The drop raised questions about whether illegal betting activity had actually decreased. The Ministry of Finance said this was not the case.
Officials explained that the change came from a new information sharing system. It did not reflect fewer suspicious transactions in the betting market.
Why the Reporting System Changed
Brazil’s Anti-Organized Crime Law required financial institutions to share information about irregularities with the government. This added new channels beyond the direct reports sent to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, known as the SPA.
Under the old system, institutions reported irregularities straight to the SPA. This included signs of unauthorized operators, intermediaries, or unusual financial activity.
The new system connects institutions through interoperable systems built to prevent electronic fraud. Some information now reaches the government through other channels instead of direct SPA reports.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed this in a statement. It said the law that took effect in March, Law No. 15,358 of 2026, created the new information flow.
The statement said this explains the drop in direct communications seen in April and May. The SPA still receives the information, just through a different path.
In June, the government issued Decree No. 13,033. The decree strengthens the SPA’s authority to receive and review this information.
The Ministry said the SPA is reviewing Ordinance No. 566/2025. The goal is to make reporting procedures clearer for financial institutions.
New regulations are expected soon. These would spell out the exact procedures and communication channels institutions should use.
The Ministry has been clear that the drop in alerts does not mean fewer problems in the betting market. It describes the change as a shift in administration and technology, not a change in the number of irregularities.
For now, the SPA continues to review its regulatory framework. Financial institutions and payment companies are waiting for updated guidance on how to report suspicious activity going forward.
