Riocentro opened its doors on Wednesday, March 4, for the first day of conferences and the commercial exhibition of SBC Summit Rio 2026. This year’s edition is taking place at a strategic moment for Brazil’s regulated online betting market, which is now in its second year of operation.
The day featured an intense schedule of panels, debates, and networking meetings. Early in the morning, the event’s main stage welcomed Chris Kypriotis, former CEO of Nike in Brazil, who delivered the opening keynote on high-performance culture in business.
One of the highlights of Wednesday’s program was the panel that brought together key figures in the regulation of the sector in Brazil: Daniele Correa Cardoso, acting secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance, and Giovanni Rocco Neto, secretary of Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport.
They presented an overview of the work carried out by the government in regulating betting. While the department linked to the Ministry of Finance focuses on the regulatory framework and market supervision, the secretariat connected to the Ministry of Sport is more focused on integrity and the protection of competitions.
“It is very important to acknowledge the seriousness of that entire period without regulation in Brazil. Everything we face today in terms of problems in the sector stems from the lack of regulation during that long period. What our government did in one year, the previous government had four years to do and did not. We had to regulate this market, of the size it is today, under intense pressure,” said Rocco Neto.
Challenges
In a panel with industry executives, Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), said the regulated market faces legal uncertainty due to successive proposals to increase taxes on betting.
“When operators took the risk of coming to Brazil, establishing a legal company, paying BRL 30 million [for the federal license to operate] and placing BRL 5 million as a guarantee, their calculations were based on the tax level already established at the time. Just a few months after the activity became regulated, proposals to increase those taxes started to emerge — proposals that we have been fighting day after day,” said Lemos Jorge.
For Amilton Noble, CEO of Hebara and an executive with more than 30 years in the gaming industry, the beginning of the regulated online betting market has been marked by challenges. However, he also sees positive developments.
“We have made many advances, but we have also made some mistakes, and those mistakes can obviously be corrected. When we hear feedback from abroad, Brazilian regulation has already become a reference for some countries. So we cannot focus only on the negative effects. We have more than 80 regulated companies and around 200 regulated websites. But on the other hand, we have more than 27,000 [illegal] sites taken offline. This shows that despite the efficiency in removing them, we have not yet been able to prevent the presence of these unregulated operators in the Brazilian market,” Noble said during one of the panels.
Integrated resort casinos
Integrated resort casinos once again featured in the program with a panel dedicated to the topic. The issue continues to raise expectations within the sector even though the legalization bill remains stalled in the Senate, with no forecast for a vote in the plenary.
During the event, panel participants highlighted the potential of land-based gaming to strengthen tourism, noting that it helps retain visitors and stimulate the broader economic chain.
“Today, for example, in regions like Foz do Iguaçu, the best side of the park is the Brazilian side, and the best hotels are on the Brazilian side. But what happens at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.? Everyone goes to Argentina or Paraguay to gamble. Imagine if we had a casino integrated into a resort [on the Brazilian side],” said Bruno Omori, president of IDT-Cema and director of gaming and hospitality at the Federation of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars of the State of São Paulo (FHORESP).
Beyond the conferences and exhibition stands, SBC Summit Rio was also marked by the visit of Ronaldinho Gaúcho. The presence of the football legend generated major excitement among participants, who crowded the corridors of Riocentro to see the star and try to take a photo, even from a distance and through a glass barrier.
Thursday program
The SBC Summit Rio 2026 agenda continues this Thursday, March 5, with new panels taking place simultaneously across the leadership, payments, and marketing stages, along with networking opportunities and meetings in the exhibition area.
One of the highlights of Thursday’s schedule is the 11 a.m. panel featuring betting industry executives. Guilherme Figueiredo (Betano), Antonio Forjaz (Entain/Sportingbet), Almir Ribeiro (BetMGM), Marcos Sabiá (Galerabet), and Cássio Filter (KTO) will discuss the challenge of building brands with cultural connection and positive impact on society. The session will be moderated by Magnho José (BNLData/IJL).
Pix, often cited as one of the factors contributing to the success of Brazil’s online betting market, also has a dedicated spot in the second day’s program.
At 12 p.m., Rafael Rebelo (H2Bet), Samer Atassi (Jumio), Barbara Teles (AMIG), and Thomas Carvalhaes (iGaming consultant and former country manager for Stake in Brazil) will explain the role of instant payments in improving user experience, addressing compliance challenges, and opening new opportunities for player loyalty.
Other topics on Thursday’s conference agenda include sports sponsorships, video lottery terminals (VLTs), iGaming retention, lottery migration to digital platforms, anti-money laundering efforts, and more. The full list is available through the event program.
The closing party of SBC Summit Rio 2026, scheduled for 9 p.m., will feature Brazilian DJ and producer Öwnboss, one of the leading names in Brazilian electronic music on the international stage. The lineup will also include British DJ Marc Vedo, who is set to open the night with house and tech house sets.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/05/117912-sbc-summit-rio-highlights-progress-and-challenges-in-brazils-regulated-online-betting-market
