Pixbet and Other Betting Operators Return Online Following SPA Suspension

Pixbet and several other betting operators can again offer their services in Brazil, just days after the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance announced a sweeping license suspension affecting seven gambling operators. Most affected companies have addressed the reporting deficiencies and resumed operations, with only two remaining offline.

Most Operators Promptly Complied

According to the SPA, the offending operators failed to comply with Ordinance SPA/MF No. 722/2024. Under Brazilian law, licensed betting operators must present comprehensive reports regarding user transaction history, betting behaviors, and other operational data. The SPA remains adamant that this data is vital for ensuring accountability in the newly regulated market. 

Several of the companies provided documentation within hours of the announcement, meeting the reporting requirements and prompting the SPA to lift their temporary license suspensions. Two additional companies, EA Entertainment and Bet.Bet Technological Solutions later also provided the requested documentation, resuming their services after the regulator gave them the green light.

Just two operators remained suspended as of June 2. These are Bell Ventures Digital, operating bandbet.bet.br, and Betesporte On Line Betting, the company behind websites betesporte.bet.br and lancedesorte.bet.br. The two companies are reportedly working to address the underlying issues and are expecting a swift reinstatement.

Pixbet Fought the Suspension in Court

Unlike the other operators on the SPA’s list, Pixbet, a prominent Brazilian operator and sponsor of the Flamengo football club, returned online via a court injunction. The ruling temporarily annulled the SPA’s enforcement action against Pixbet based on the “danger of delay,” as the company would have missed out on a critical soccer match during the weekend.

In its appeal to the court, Pixbet argued that the SPA’s decision, released late afternoon on Friday, left no practical way for the company to address the issue before the suspension took effect. Pixbet was also adamant it had submitted all necessary information and noted that the SPA’s enforcement action inflicted undue harm to its business and public image.

This sudden enforcement drive aligns with the government’s escalating efforts to assert control over Brazil’s surging betting industry. Now that most companies are back online, attention shifts to whether the SPA will retain this harsh approach. Industry stakeholders are calling for more transparent timelines and improved communication channels to avoid abrupt disruptions.