Brazil Awards 81 iGaming Licenses Amid Market Launch
Best Casinos 2025
Key Takeaways
- Brazil finalizes 81 operator licenses, enabling regulated online casino debut on January 1, 2026.
- Macau GGR rises 14.4% in November, driven by live tables and events.
- SJM shuts final satellites, streamlining Asia's compliant casino ecosystem.
Brazil Greenlights 81 Operators for Regulated Launch
Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) published the official list of 81 licensed operators for fixed-odds betting and online gaming on December 31, 2025, in the Official Gazette of the Union, clearing the path for the regulated market's January 1, 2026, opening under Law No. 14,790/2023. From over 270 initial applications, only these met stringent criteria including BR$30 million (US$6.1 million) fees, local headquarters mandates, AML protocols, and e COGRA certifications, with 14 holding full approvals and others provisional pending audits.
This consolidation curbs the black market's dominance in a $4 billion sector serving 60 million users, mandating .bet.br domains and LGPD data protections to foster trust. Live casino providers must adapt with localized live blackjack and roulette streams, projecting 12% CAGR as fiat-only rules harmonize with EU standards. While exclusions allow resubmissions, the framework elevates Lat Am's compliance benchmark, drawing $1 billion in FDI for immersive, traceable experiences.
Source: https://www.igamingtoday.com/brazil-releases-list-of-81-licensed-operators-for-2025/
Macau GGR Climbs 14.4% on Live Table Surge
Macau's casinos posted MOP 21.08 billion ($2.63 billion) in gross gaming revenue for November 2025, a 14.4% year-over-year gain per the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), fueled by live table games where baccarat held 85% of drop amid events like the Macau Grand Prix. Mass-market tables rose 18%, supported by mainland tourism and non-gaming draws at resorts, pushing year-to-date GGR to MOP 226.51 billion, exceeding the government's MOP 19 billion monthly target.
The uptick cements Asia's $150 billion recovery, with live authenticity anchoring VIP play despite economic variances. Providers eye hybrid formats for 8% annual expansion to 2030, as DICJ's oversight influences PAGCOR's Philippine audits. This momentum, nearing 90% of 2019 peaks, underscores diversified attractions' role in sustaining high-volume baccarat hubs under responsible gaming mandates.
Source: https://macaonews.org/news/business/macau-gross-gaming-revenue-november-2025/
SJM Closes Last Satellite Casinos by Year-End
SJM Resorts confirmed the shutdown of its remaining satellite venues—Casino Casa Real on November 21, 2025, and Kam Pek Paradise on December 1—complying with DICJ's mandate for direct concessionaire control by December 31, redistributing 296 tables and reassigning 296 staff to core properties. This caps a restructuring wave, including Ponte 16 and L’Arc integrations, ending third-party models that once comprised 20% of operations.
In Asia's maturing $10 billion arena, the move enhances transparency for live distributions, where tables drive 50% engagement, curbing risks and aligning with 2023 concessions. Software providers and casino operators shift to in-house compliant streams, mirroring regional consolidations for 12% CAGR via efficient, localized tech. Operators face transitional costs but gain streamlined B2B pathways, bolstering resilience in high-stakes environments.
Armenia Hikes Fees for Enhanced Oversight
Armenia's National Assembly enacted doubled online casino fees to €600,000 annually from April 2026 on November 1, 2025, creating a unified authority for AI-monitored self-exclusion and behavioral analytics to cut unlicensed sites by 15%, yielding €50-70 million in revenue.
Europe's €15 billion live sector gains fiscal rigor, aligning with UK initiatives where roulette margins reach 30%. Providers optimize for CEE expansions, benchmarking MGA standards for 10% growth via efficient hybrids.
