Crypto Gambling Tax Brazil

Brazil regulated online betting in January 2025 — and banned crypto from the regulated market

Brazil's online gambling landscape transformed on January 1, 2025 when Law 14,790/2023 launched the regulated market under Ministry of Finance supervision. Eighty-plus operators received federal authorisation in 2025 paying R$30 million each in licence fees. Normative Ordinance No. 615/2024 banned cryptocurrency entirely from the regulated market — only electronic bank transfers and Pix were permitted. The Receita Federal taxes player winnings on net monthly profit above R$2,824 at a 15% rate under Law 14,790, Article 31. The crypto layer sits separately: Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT are taxed under Lei 14.754/2023 with monthly progressive rates on disposal gains. Brazilian players using offshore crypto casinos like BC.Game, Stake and Cloudbet operate outside the regulated framework and face Anatel blocking (over 18,000 illegal IPs blocked in 2025), but the Receita Federal tax position applies regardless. This guide walks through the regulated tax framework, the crypto disposal rules, the R$35,000 monthly exemption nuance, and the documentation required for the Declaração de Imposto sobre a Renda. The information here is general; consult a Brazilian contador before filing.

What the Receita Federal treats as taxable

Two laws frame the analysis. Law 14,790/2023 governs online betting income. Article 31 imposes a 15% tax on "net winnings" from fixed-odds betting (sports betting) and casino games. Net winnings are computed monthly as total winnings minus total stakes. Below R$2,824 monthly net (one and a half times the basic income tax bracket), no tax applies. Above that threshold, 15% applies to the full amount.

For licensed operators, the tax is withheld at source under Article 31, §2. Offshore operators do not withhold — the obligation transfers to the player to declare and pay via the Carnê-Leão system or the annual DIRPF return. Self-declaration is mandatory under Article 36 of the IRPF regulations.

Crypto is taxed separately under Lei 14.754/2023 (passed December 2023 covering offshore-held assets including crypto) and the standing Lei 13.259/2016 framework for capital gains. For crypto held offshore — including in casino balances — Lei 14.754 imposes a 15% flat rate on annual gains from offshore investments. For crypto held domestically, the progressive scale applies: 15% on monthly gains up to R$5 million, 17.5% above R$5 million up to R$10 million, 20% above R$10 million up to R$30 million, and 22.5% above R$30 million.

The crypto framework includes a R$35,000 monthly exemption for total crypto disposals in a calendar month — below that, no tax applies. Above, the full gain (not just the excess) is taxable. The exemption is per month, not annual, so spreading disposals across months below the threshold legally minimises tax exposure for moderate players.

How the framework applies step by step

1. Buy crypto. Acquiring BTC, ETH or USDT on Mercado Bitcoin, Foxbit, NovaDax or Binance Brasil creates a cost base in BRL. Record date, BRL value, fees.
2. Deposit to an offshore casino. Transfer of crypto to a custodial account is a disposal under Receita guidance Solução de Consulta 214/2021. Gain or loss = BRL FMV at deposit minus cost base. Loss is recognised but only against other crypto gains in the same year.
3. Win at the casino. Casino winnings are taxable under Law 14,790 Article 31 at 15% on net monthly. The casino does not withhold (offshore), so the player self-declares.
4. Withdraw to your wallet. Acquisition of crypto at BRL fair value on withdrawal. New cost base.
5. Sell or swap. Second crypto disposal event. 15% under Lei 14.754 (offshore) or progressive scale under Lei 13.259 (domestic), with the R$35,000 monthly exemption.

For domestic-held crypto, declarations go on the Ganhos de Capital module of the DIRPF, filed via the GCAP program monthly and consolidated into the annual return. For offshore-held assets including crypto in offshore wallets, Lei 14.754 introduced a separate annual declaration with the 15% flat rate.

Practical examples — a São Paulo player's year

Consider a casual Brazilian player in 2025.

Deposits: R$25,000 of USDT-TRC20 over the year, no significant USDT price movement against BRL (stable).

Casino activity: Stake.com (geo-blocked Brazil since regulated market launched but accessible via VPN; legal grey area) and BC.Game. Total wagered R$120,000, gross winnings R$45,000, gross losses R$42,000, net R$3,000 up across 12 months.

Withdrawals: R$28,000 of USDT over the year.

Tax reporting:

• Law 14,790 Article 31 on net monthly winnings: The R$3,000 net annual splits roughly R$250/month. Each month below the R$2,824 threshold — no tax due on the gaming layer.
• Lei 14.754 on offshore crypto: USDT stable, negligible gain. R$0 due.
• Total Brazilian tax: R$0.

A more active player with R$20,000 of winnings in a single month above the R$2,824 threshold would owe 15% on the R$20,000 = R$3,000 for that month, reported on Carnê-Leão the following month. The 15% applies to the full amount once the threshold is crossed; it is a threshold not an exemption.

A player who used BTC instead of USDT and saw 30% price appreciation across the year would face additional crypto-disposal tax. R$25,000 in BTC deposits at R$300,000/BTC = 0.0833 BTC. If sold a year later at R$390,000/BTC, BRL proceeds R$32,500. Gain R$7,500. If the disposal stayed under R$35,000 in the calendar month, the gain is exempt under the monthly threshold rule. The same disposal exceeding R$35,000 monthly would attract 15% = R$1,125.

The regulated market reality and offshore access

Law 14,790/2023 created the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) within the Ministry of Finance to license operators. The first wave of authorisations in Q4 2024 onboarded the major brands: Betano, Bet365, Sportingbet, Betfair, KTO, Esportes da Sorte. By May 2026, 88 operators hold federal licences paying R$30 million each per licence (R$2.64 billion total in licence fees). Operators pay 12% GGR rising to 15% by 2028.

Normative Ordinance No. 615/2024 prohibits cryptocurrency as a payment method for any licensed operator. Pix is the dominant rail — instant, free, ubiquitous. Brazilian bank cards and electronic wallets complete the regulated payment stack. Crypto casinos like Stake, BC.Game, Cloudbet and Roobet target Brazilian players from offshore but face Anatel blocking and progressive payment-rail restrictions.

The illegal market remained 41-51% of total Brazilian betting volume through 2025 despite enforcement. Anatel blocked over 18,000 illegal IPs in 2025. Player risk shifted from regulatory ambiguity to active enforcement targeting offshore access. Crypto-funded casino play sidesteps the Pix-only restriction at the operator level but the underlying activity is still classified as illegal participation in the unregulated market.

Mandatory biometric selfie verification at licensed operators creates a hard distinction between regulated and unregulated channels. Players who want to retain anonymity inevitably push to offshore crypto — accepting the regulatory risk in exchange for no biometric KYC and no Pix-only payment lock-in.

Common mistakes and red flags

• Treating gambling winnings as windfall. Brazil explicitly taxes gambling winnings under Law 14,790. No windfall exemption applies.
• Missing the deposit-disposal event. The Receita treats crypto deposits to casinos as transfers under Solução de Consulta 214/2021. Casual filers commonly miss this leg of the round trip.
• Confusing the R$35,000 monthly exemption. The exemption is per month and per asset class. Spreading large disposals across calendar months legally minimises tax. Above the threshold in a single month, the full amount becomes taxable.
• Filing crypto on the wrong schedule. Domestic-held crypto disposals go on the GCAP/Ganhos de Capital schedule with progressive rates. Offshore-held crypto (including casino balances) goes on the Lei 14.754 declaration with the 15% flat rate. The two are not interchangeable.
• Underreporting offshore activity. The Receita is receiving CRS data from offshore CEXs and from Brazilian crypto-cash conversion channels. Bypassing the regulated Pix system does not make activity invisible.

FAQ

É legal jogar em casinos cripto no Brasil? Regulated operators do not accept crypto. Offshore crypto casinos are accessible via VPN but operate in the illegal market under Law 14,790. Player-side enforcement is limited but increasing through Anatel IP blocks.

Do I have to declare offshore casino winnings? Yes, under the Receita Federal's annual declaration obligation. Article 36 of the IRPF regulations requires declaration of all income sources regardless of withholding status.

What about Pix-only casinos? All licensed operators are Pix-only or Pix-primary. The 28% tax on stakes does not apply in Brazil (that is the Indian rate); Brazilian operators pay 12-15% GGR.

Is there a state-level component? Federal Law 14,790 sets the player tax at 15% nationally. ICMS does not apply to gambling. State-level revenue comes from the share of federal GGR transfers, not from a separate state tax.

What records should I keep? Casino deposit/withdrawal screenshots, blockchain transaction hashes, exchange CSVs from Mercado Bitcoin or Binance Brasil, monthly net winnings calculation. Five-year retention under the Receita's general framework.

Updated 22 May 2026. This is general information, not tax advice — consult a Brazilian contador.