Altenar’s compliance team monitors regulatory developments and changes around the world to the benefit of our internal teams and our clients.
In our latest round-up, we’ve condensed all the latest news from January to provide a handy guide to significant changes in iGaming markets around the world.?
BRAZIL
Regulated online gaming market now open, announces SPA
On January 1, Brazil's Secretariat Prizes and Bets (SPA) began fully regulating the fixed-odds betting market, issuing 15 licences and authorising 52 companies provisionally. Authorised operators must comply with ‘.bet.br’ domain rules. Non-compliant companies will be blocked. Financial institutions cannot process transactions for unauthorised entities. SPA lists authorized companies and FAQs on their website.
Additional information:
Supreme Court halts interstate betting operations
On January 2, Supreme Court Justice André Mendon?a ordered Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery authority to prevent state-licensed operators from accepting bets from players beyond state borders. The injunction, in response to a federal civil case, gave LOTERJ five days to comply using geolocation technologies.?
The full bench of Federal Supreme Court justices will review the order in February. Brazil's national regulatory regime allows states to issue licences for local betting and gaming.
Brazil Revises Regulations for Bettor Data and Funds Transfer
The SPA has issued a Rectification to Ordinance No. 1.857/2024 concerning the transfer of bettor data and funds. This Rectification amends sections of Annex III to revise document requirements for data and resource transfers. Now, spreadsheets must identify bettors' resources in open bets at the receiving legal entity, rather than the sending one. The submission deadline for the spreadsheet of reverted funds has also changed to June 30, 2025.
Task force for tax compliance
Joint Ordinance No. 3/2025 has been published to establish a working group to monitor tax compliance and licensing requirements of fixed-odds betting operators. GTI-Bets will identify illegal activities, such as money laundering, by unauthorised companies and submit bi-monthly reports to Sufis and SPA.
Ordinance imposes severe restrictions on esports betting
The Ministry of Sports has published Ordinance 125 which limits betting to esports accepted by the International Olympic Committee. This ordinance regulates the list of sports and sports practice entities that may be the object of fixed-odds betting on real sports-themed events. The IOC’s Olympic Esports Series of 2023 was limited to archery, baseball, cycling, chess, dance, and motorsport. The Ministry stated that it plans to update the list of permissible sports.
DENMARK
Betting and online casino certification programme updated
The Danish Gambling Authority’s updated certification programme for betting and online casinos took effect on January 1. This new supplier authorisation regime requires suppliers to be directly included and align with the updated certification processes, ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework.
Additional Information: https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/onlinekasino#certificeringsprogram
SWEDEN
New supervision fees introduced
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has announced that new regulations for gambling supervision fees took effect on January 1. The fee for gambling software licences is SEK16,500 (€1,437), payable in advance for a 12-month period. These regulations replace the Gaming Inspectorate's previous regulations (SIFS 2023:2).
PERU
Consumption tax temporarily lowered
Peru's Ministry of Economy and Finance has issued a decree lowering the selective consumption tax (ISC) for online sports and gaming from 1% to 0.3% for six months. Initially introduced in September, the ISC was modified in December to clarify it applies when money or credits are taken from a player's account. Despite the tax rate reduction, it still applies to every wager.
Guidelines for online gaming operators issued
Peru's gaming regulator, MINCETUR, has posted instructions on its website for operators to register and use regulatory systems. Three communications were issued: management of the anti-bribery system, audit and security report instructions for the technological platform, and guidelines for transmitting technical and economic data to the MINCETUR SFTP server.?
UK
Warning over black market
The Gambling Commission, led by CEO Andrew Rhodes, is taking decisive action against the black market, potentially influencing other regulators.?
Rhodes urges regulated firms to avoid partnerships with illegal suppliers, while the Betting and Gaming Council is introducing a code of conduct to prevent supplier support for unlicensed operators.?
The UKGC is also piloting financial risk assessments for high-spending customers, with results expected by March. These assessments are part of the government’s reforms, including stake limits and a gambling ombudsman. BGC CEO Grainne Hurst expects these reforms to be implemented by the end of 2025, promoting stability and progress in gambling policy.
BULGARIA
Regulator releases technical guidelines for information submission
Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA) has published the XSD schema and format file for gambling operators to submit reports required under Article 47f of the Gambling Act. Operators must notify the NRA of winnings exceeding BGN5,000 (€2,556) per participant annually. The report must be submitted by February 28 of the following year.?
Bulgaria has also resubmitted a draft law amending the Anti-Financing of Terrorism Act, Measures Against Money Laundering Act, and Gambling Act for public consultation. The public consultation is repeated due to significant amendments related to Directive (EU) 2024/1640.?
COLOMBIA
Updated technical standards for virtual gaming machines
Coljuegos, Colombia's gaming regulator, has passed Resolution 20241200028984 to update technical requirements for localised virtual gaming machines. The resolution includes an annex detailing technical requirements for the reliability and connectivity of betting on racing and virtual sports (ACDV), played through land-based terminals containing virtual sports and racing games.
Additional information:
NETHERLANDS
Government begins initial betting and lottery tax hike
On January 1, the Dutch government began its planned increase in the betting and lottery tax, raising the rate from 30.5% to 34.2%, as announced in the September 2024 budget. Another increase to 37.8% is set for January 1, 2026, pending parliamentary approval. These changes affect businesses organising games of chance and gaming machine operators, allowing them to adjust to rising costs while aligning with fiscal objectives.
NEW JERSEY
Bill decriminalises underage gambling?
Assembly Bill 5086 reduces the penalty for underage gambling in New Jersey to a civil penalty and directs fines to fund problem gambling treatment. The bill applies to those aged 21 or older who allow underage individuals to gamble. Casino employees or licensees who permit underage gambling will face the same civil penalties as offenders. The bill has advanced in the state's Assembly.
Lawmaker seeks to ban online ads for sports betting
Assemblyman Brian Bergen has introduced a measure that proposes to ban all online advertising of sports betting. The bill, which specifically would ban the “posting, distributing
broadcasting, disseminating” of any sports-betting advertisements on the internet or any other web-based platform and has been referred to the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee for further consideration.
CURA?AO
Application portal to reopen
The Cura?ao Gaming Authority (CGA) has announced that the online application portal for gaming licences will reopen in mid-March.
Following the passage of the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK) on December 24, the CGA temporarily closed its online portal for new applications. It is now working on revising and updating the necessary application documents to reflect the LOK requirements.?
The new and updated forms are expected to be available by the end of February. The online portal is set to re-open in mid-March for B2C applications and in May/June for B2B applications.
New AML rules issued
The Cura?ao Gaming Control Board (GCB) has published anti-money laundering regulations for casinos and online game providers. These cover risk-based approaches, customer due diligence, reporting unusual transactions, and AML compliance programs. A three-month transitional period requires all land-based and online casinos to comply with these regulations by April 10, 2025.
ECUADOR
Licensing regime amended
The new licensing regime for Sports Forecasts (LOPD) offers a five-year licence at a fee of 655 Salario Basico Unificado (SBU), approximately USD307,850 for 2025. The fee is payable to the relevant sports governing body and the compliance deadline is March 23, 2025.
Changes to sports betting taxation
Executive Decree 487 modifies the taxable base for the 15% income tax on sports betting to include total income generated, excluding prizes paid. Deposits made by players to operators but not used for sports predictions are not taxed. The compliance deadline is March 23, 2025.
PHILIPPINES
POGO ban enforced
The Philippine ban on foreign-facing online gambling operators (POGOs) and their support services is now effective. Officials are hunting down illegal operators, seizing assets, and enforcing Executive Order 74, which took effect on January 1. The government aims to confiscate POGO properties, pursue delinquent taxes, and cancel fraudulently-acquired birth certificates and citizenships of POGO owners, managers, employees, and related individuals.
NORWAY
Gambling Act amendments authorise DNS blocking
Article 32 of the Gambling Act has empowered the Norwegian Gambling Authority to direct internet service providers to implement DNS blocking for unlicensed gambling websites targeting the Norwegian market. The authority can also specify the content and form of the landing page displayed by internet service providers.
UZBEKISTAN
Gambling and lottery regulations take effect
Uzbekistan's Decree No. PF-68 on regulating lotteries and risk-based games took effect on January 1. The decree introduces a new licensing regime for online gambling, lotteries, and sports betting, aiming to protect citizens, prevent addiction, and stop fund outflow. On December 12, regulations implementing the decree were published, designating the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP) as the gambling licensing authority. Licences are valid for five years, limited to Uzbekistan's national internet domains.
LITHUANIA
Parliament approves higher gambling tax rate
Lithuania has amended Article 5 of the Lottery and Gambling Tax Law No. IX-326. The revised Article 5(2) imposes a 22% tax rate on lotteries, gambling activities, slot machines, table games, bingo, totalisator, betting, and remote gambling. Adopted on June 25, 2024, this amendment applies from the 2025 tax period onward.
New amendments to strengthen gambling regulations
The Lithuanian parliament has adopted amendments to the Law on Gambling, Law on Lotteries, and Code of Administrative Offences to combat illegal gambling and enhance consumer protection. The new rules require payment service providers to verify if transactions are associated with authorized gambling entities and block those linked to unauthorised operators, with effect from May 1, 2025.
ITALY
2025 budget takes effect
The new budget came into effect on January 1, impacting lotteries, bingo, online gaming, horse race betting, and gambling taxation. Tax rates for remote skill games, fixed-odds games, online bingo, sports betting, simulated events, and horse racing bets have all increased by 0.5%.?
NIGERIA
Tax imposed on gambling winnings
On January 1, Nigeria's Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations 2024 came into effect. The regulations impose a 5% withholding tax on gambling winnings for Nigerian residents and a 15% rate for non-residents, covering gaming, lottery, and reality shows.