President Lula signs bill making payment institutions and advertisers jointly liable for illegal online gambling – G3 Newswire
Summary
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Decree No. 12.808/2025 (published in the Official Gazette), which establishes joint tax liability for banks, payment methods, payment service providers and advertisers in relation to illegal fixed-odds betting operations.
The decree implements rules tied to PLP 128/2025 and assigns the Ministry of Finance — via the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) — to publish ordinances setting out procedures, deadlines and penalties. It clarifies that financial institutions and payment providers must adopt restrictive measures after formal notification, and can be held liable if they allow transactions with entities not authorised to operate fixed-odds betting. Advertisers, digital influencers and media outlets that promote unauthorised operators are also exposed to tax responsibility under the new rules.
Key Points
- Decree No. 12.808/2025 creates joint tax liability for banks, payment institutions and advertisers linked to illegal fixed-odds betting.
- The measure enacts parts of PLP 128/2025 and instructs the SPA and Minister of Finance to publish detailed enforcement procedures and penalties.
- Financial and payment service providers must take restrictive actions after formal notification or risk being held responsible for unpaid taxes.
- Liability extends to allowing transactions with unauthorised entities and to parties that disseminate advertising for operators not authorised by federal law, including influencers and media outlets.
- The decree also addresses reducing federal incentives and tax benefits linked to betting and sets specific accountability criteria for tax collection related to betting activity.
Context and relevance
This is a major regulatory step in Brazil’s efforts to curb illegal online gambling and to protect tax revenues. By placing responsibility on intermediaries — banks, payment providers and advertisers — the decree raises compliance and operational risk across payments, advertising and media sectors. It aligns with a wider regional trend of tightening rules around online gambling, influencer advertising and payment screening, and could prompt immediate changes to KYC, transaction blocking and marketing policies.
Author style
Punchy: This isn’t minor housekeeping — it’s a structural shift in who bears financial risk for illegal betting. Payment firms and advertisers now sit squarely in the crosshairs. If you operate in payments, media or gaming in Brazil, you need to review contracts, onboarding and monitoring fast.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you deal with payments, adverts or influencer work in Brazil, this could cost you — literally. The new rules can make banks, PSPs and anyone promoting unauthorised operators liable for tax bills and penalties. Read it so you know whether to tighten controls, update partner checks or pause risky campaigns.