ANJL and IBJR prepare joint action against big tech over ads for illegal betting in Brazil

The Association Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) and the Instituto Brasileiro de Jogo Responsável (IBJR) are preparing a joint action against large digital platforms that carry and monetize advertising for betting operators not authorized to operate in Brazil. For PSPs and acquiring teams, the point is straightforward: ad distribution, fraud controls, and payment flows are being pulled into the same enforcement conversation.

1. The two groups want to stop the publication of ads for unauthorized sites and apps, speed up content removal, and examine the platforms’ responsibility for distributing and monetizing that material. In practice, they are asking the platforms to do more than react after the fact.
2. ANJL and IBJR say platforms should adopt effective measures to identify, block, and remove illegal content, especially material that can reach children and adolescents. They also want stronger fraud-prevention mechanisms in place.
3. According to the entities, platforms are directing consumers to unauthorized sites and apps that are not supervised and do not offer the guarantees required under Brazilian law. They say illegal operators can use sponsored ads, fake profiles, malicious links, and promises of guaranteed winnings to obtain data and payments or push users to install suspicious apps.
4. The complaint also frames the issue as a competitive imbalance: authorized companies operate under strict rules, while illegal operators reach millions of Brazilians without meeting the same requirements. For regulated players, that usually means more compliance cost on one side and more tolerance for bad actors on the other.