IBIA launches guide to block illegal gambling payments in Brazil
The success of a regulated market depends not only on the licenses granted but also on the system's ability to financially suffocate those operating in the shadows. With this premise, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has published a guide to best practices designed specifically for payment providers in Brazil. This document seeks to turn transactional gateways into the first line of defense against illegal sports betting, offering technical tools to identify and block money flows that often end up funding much more complex criminal structures.
The initiative stems from the IBIA Payment Provider Forum, a body created in early 2025 that brings together industry leaders such as Pay4Fun, Z.ro bank, OKTO, and OneKey Payments. In an ecosystem where Law No. 14,790/2023 already explicitly prohibits processing payments for unauthorized operators, this guide appears as the necessary instruction manual for financial technology companies to comply with regulations without compromising their operational efficiency or reputation.
A manual for detecting ghost accounts and fraud networks
The document does not stop at the legal surface but delves into the real threats that payment providers face daily. Among the identified risks are the use of ghost accounts and fraudulent withdrawals, common tactics that illegal operators employ to launder money or move capital linked to match-fixing. The guide proposes a model of enhanced due diligence and constant risk-based monitoring, allowing financial entities to detect suspicious patterns before the money leaves the controlled circuit.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, has been emphatic in pointing out that this collaborative model allows all ecosystem actors (payments, operators, and regulators) to be aligned under consistent controls. For industry experts, the key lies in the continuous validation of licenses, ensuring that no transaction is processed if the destination operator is not listed in the official register of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA).
"Payment providers are on the front line of market channeling and regulatory compliance. By combining robust controls with reliable information sharing, we can quickly block unauthorized activity," said Ari Celia, Pay4Fun representative.
Collaboration as the only path to integrity
One of the pillars of the new guide is the need to break down information silos. Marcelo Bueno, from Z.ro Bank, emphasizes that blocking protocols and structured reports are essential to reduce the legal exposure of financial entities. In 2026, with a mature Brazilian market under international scrutiny, the ability to disrupt illegal betting networks depends directly on how quickly data on suspicious transactions flows between banks and integrity bodies.
IBIA, which continues to lead global efforts for fair play, has made this guide available to the public in English and Portuguese, stressing that the fight against financial crime is a cross-border challenge. With this move, Brazil strengthens its regulatory armor just as market visibility is at its highest, making it clear that in the new Brazilian scenario, illegal betting money no longer has a safe place to hide.
Tags: Pay4Fun, IBIA, Brazil, Brazil payment methods, illegal payments Brazil