Brazil has established a national forum to coordinate betting and lottery regulation, marking a new step in consolidating oversight of the sector. The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF) established the Forum for the National Systematisation of Betting (SINAPO) through a formal ordinance published in the federal gazette. The move coincides with the departure of the SPA’s head, who has taken a senior reform role within the ministry.
New SPA/MF Decree Establishes National Betting Forum in Brazil: Summarising the Key Facts
- Brazil has established a national forum to coordinate betting and lottery regulation through the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF). The new body, known as SINAPO, was formalised by Ordinance SPA/MF No. 227 and published in the Federal Official Gazette on January 29.
- SINAPO aims to promote dialogue between the Union, the States, and the Federal District and to harmonise regulatory practices. Its objectives include integrating strategic insights, improving oversight, and strengthening legal certainty and transparency in betting operations.
- The forum will operate as a consultative and non-binding platform with four regular meetings per year and optional thematic working groups. Its creation coincides with the appointment of Regis Anderson Dudena to a new senior role at the ministry, marking the end of his tenure leading the betting secretariat.
Brazil Launches SINAPO to Harmonise Betting Rules
The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets of Brazil’s Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF) has officially created the Forum for the National Systematisation of Betting (SINAPO). The measure was formalised by Ordinance SPA/MF No. 227, signed on January 28 and published in the Federal Official Gazette on January 29.
The ordinance establishes a permanent institutional environment to coordinate the operation of lottery modalities across Brazil. Authorities stated that the need to “articulate, integrate, and promote dialogue between the Union, the States, and the Federal District regarding the operation of lottery modalities” resulted in SINAPO’s creation.
The forum is designed to exchange experiences, information, and regulatory practices among federative entities, similar to what the EGBA is proposing across the EU. It also seeks to plan joint actions and integrate strategic data related to betting operations. The SPA states that SINAPO aims to enhance legal certainty, transparency, and integrity in the betting sector.
SINAPO will report directly to the SPA, which will also act as its executive secretariat. The Secretary of Prizes and Bets will serve as the principal representative, with the Deputy Secretary acting as the alternate representative. States and the Federal District may join SINAPO by signing an adhesion clause defining the rights and duties.
The ordinance states:
The conditions for joining the SINAPO Forum, as well as the rights and duties of the adhering members, will be set out in the respective Membership Agreement.
The SPA will have up to 45 days to make the agreement available to interested entities. Each federative participant must appoint one main representative and one alternate. The ordinance specifies that SINAPO will not require a minimum quorum to meet. Its outcomes will be non-deliberative and non-binding, reinforcing its consultative and coordinative character. This framework positions the forum as a platform for dialogue rather than supervision.
SINAPO’s Organisational Hierarchy and Agenda
SINAPO is expected to hold four ordinary meetings each year under an agenda defined by the SPA. Extraordinary meetings may occur when necessary, and sessions may take place in person, remotely, or in hybrid form. Participation is limited to formally designated representatives.
The SPA may invite other public bodies, private organisations, and representatives from civil society as necessary. In addition to regular meetings, the ordinance allows the creation of up to five Thematic Debate Forums. These groups will function for three months, with the possibility of renewal, and will focus on specific operational issues.
The thematic groups are intended to act as technical bodies supporting SINAPO’s discussions. Their work will complement the main forum and contribute specialised analysis. The SPA will also prepare and distribute technical documents resulting from the forum’s activities.
SINAPO’s establishment coincides with a major leadership transition within the Secretariat. Regis Anderson Dudena signed the ordinance as one of his final acts as head of the SPA. On January 29, he was appointed Secretary of Economic Reforms at the Ministry of Finance.
The forum’s creation consolidates a regulatory cycle associated with his tenure. During this period, the SPA structured Brazil’s betting framework through decrees, ordinances, and operational measures. As Dudena assumes his new role, the forum stands as a mechanism intended to support long-term coordination in Brazil’s regulated lottery and betting system.