The discussion focused on the challenges and lessons Brazil and Peru faced after implementing their regulated online gaming and sports betting markets over the past two years. It is worth noting that Peru regulated its market in February 2024, while Brazil did so in January 2025.
For Gonzalo Pérez, 2024 was “a year of transition” in Peru. Although land-based casinos already had regulation and experience with authorities, the online segment was new. “We consider the market officially launched when we started paying taxes. The transition was smooth, and I recognize the regulator’s work, although taxes remain a challenge,” he commented.
In Brazil, the situation is different. Fellipe Fraga highlighted that, eight months after the launch, discussions about raising taxes are already underway, and there are no clear advances in combating the illegal market. “We feel it is even growing. The challenge is educating politicians to understand the positive economic and social impact of the industry, in terms of job creation and sustainability,” he said.
Charmaine Hogan pointed out that the main difference is that Peru already had experience with land-based gaming, while Brazil started from scratch. According to the provider’s representative, migrating players from illegal platforms to the regulated environment requires understanding technical requirements, timelines, and costs from the beginning. She added, “In Brazil, this timeframe was shorter and stricter, impacting the number of licenses approved.”
Hugo Baungartner added that in Brazil there is still a need to “educate clients, politicians, society, and the economic sector” about how the industry works. “It’s only eight months of legal operations, and the regulatory framework is still evolving,” he explained.
Common challenges: taxes and advertising
The impact of taxes and advertising restrictions dominated much of the debate. Pérez warned that directly taxing players could push them to the illegal market, which is harder to control. “Politicians believe they will raise more this way, but in the long term, they will lose revenue,” he argued.
Hogan emphasized that the discussion should focus on player protection, crime prevention, and fair competition, not just revenue collection. Fraga noted that in Brazil, companies allocate over 50% of their revenue to taxes, forcing some operators out of the market.
Regarding advertising, Fraga said that restrictions harm only the legal market, reducing its ability to attract clients and opening space for illegal platforms. Hogan stressed that the key is to use data intelligently to create more effective and market-specific strategies.
In Peru, Pérez mentioned there is not yet debate on ad limitations, but licensed operators face challenges promoting on social media. Baungartner noted that in Brazil, paradoxically, illegal platforms can advertise on Meta and Google without restrictions, while legal platforms face more obstacles.
Comparing with other markets, Hogan highlighted that Peru and Brazil acknowledged the existence of the gray market and worked on transitioning it to a legal framework rather than trying to eliminate it abruptly. Fraga observed that Brazil’s regulatory and cultural complexity makes some international operators hesitant to invest.
The participants agreed that regulatory stability and education of all stakeholders—politicians, society, regulators, and players—are essential for both markets to reach their potential and become regional benchmarks.
To watch the full webinar, click here
SBC Summit 2025
Apuesta Total, EstrelaBet, Playtech, and Esportes Gaming Brasil will be present at SBC Summit, from September 16–18 in Lisbon.
Attendees can purchase discounted tickets for groups of three or more, saving €200 per person.
Affiliates and operators can request free passes.
On September 15, SBC will host a charity football event in Lisbon. This is a unique opportunity to see some of football’s most legendary names - for buy tickets click: Legends Charity Game.
Source: GMB
