Online betting generates €196.8m for Brazil in Q1, Access to Information request reveals
The data shows the significance of betting for state revenue collection in Brazil.
Brazil.- Data obtained via the Access to Information Law (LAI) shows that Brazil’s federal government collected R$4.17bn (€713.9m) from games and gambling in the first quarter of 2026. Of this total, more than R$1.15bn (€196.8m) came from online fixed-odds betting, known as the Bets regime.
The data, based on official tax collection documents on the amounts received between January and March of this year, was provided by the Federal Revenue Service in response to an LAI request submitted by the Brazilian digital payment platform and virtual wallet Pay4Fun.
Of the total revenue generated by betting during the period, R$ 994.7m corresponded to the direct tax contributions to the federal government, while R$ 142.3m to contributions on revenue and R$ 12.8m was allocated to the health sector.
Leonardo Baptista, CEO and co-founder of Pay4Fun, said: “The data shows that betting already plays a relevant role in both revenue collection and the dynamics of the economy, with more than R$ 1.15bn generated in the first quarter within an expanding market. This growth is directly linked to the advancement of regulation, which brought more transparency and predictability to the sector”.
The executive also highlighted the need to expand the fight against the illegal market and reinforce responsible gambling initiatives.
The data pointed to a gradual decrease in total revenue throughout the quarter. In January, the government collected R$ 2.07bn from games and bets. In February, the total fell to R$ 1.08bn and the takings for March was R$ 1.01bn.
However, bets showed a different pattern. In January, online bets generated approximately R$ 368m, rising to R$ 443m in February before falling to R$ 338m in March.
In addition to sports betting, the Federal Lottery raised R$ 13.5m, LOTEX generated R$ 6.6m and the Sports Lottery R$ 6.2m.
Igaming and online sports betting in Brazil have been regulated since the start of last year. There has been some political pushback since then, particularly due to concerns about consumer indebtedness. President Lula da Silva, despite signing off on online gambling legislation at the end of 2023, has said that he wants a ban on online casino gambling in Brazil.
Other legislators have even proposed a complete reversal of regulation. Last month, Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores) deputy Pedro Uczai introduced Bill PL-1808/2026, seeking the nationwide prohibition of all online gambling.
