Kaizen Gaming guarantees Brazilian jobs and says it 'remains committed' to the market despite betting ban

Kaizen Gaming, the parent company of Betano, has broken its public silence on Brazil's online betting ban, pledging to protect its local workforce and saying it is "here for the long run". The statement was posted on LinkedIn this week.

The company said it has guaranteed that employees in Brazil will keep their jobs until the process before the National Congress concludes, when lawmakers validate or reject the Provisional Measure. Kaizen said the measure is not final and that it believes in the rule of law, Brazil's institutions and dialogue. In the meantime, it said it is complying fully with the law and will honour social investment commitments it has already made.

Kaizen argued that the ban, announced on 25 September, affects far more than betting companies, reaching small and medium businesses in technology, telecommunications, media, services and education, as well as the wider sports economy. It noted that the regulated market opened less than two years ago and that industry tax income had supported areas such as healthcare, tourism and public security. It also warned that a ban does not remove demand and risks pushing bettors to illegal operators offering no protections.

That concern appears to be materialising. SBC Noticias Brasil reported that the number of illegal iGaming operators rose from 331 to 575 between 25 and 26 September, an increase of 74% in 24 hours. Brazil is ranked the fifth-largest gambling market worldwide by Blask.

Betano is likely the operator most exposed. According to the Blask Index, it was Brazil's biggest bookmaker, with Brand Accumulated Power, a brand's share of total user interest in the country, of 26%. Allwyn, which holds 36.75% of Kaizen, said soon after the announcement that Betano is evaluating potential mitigants and preparing legal action to protect its rights under its five-year licence.

Paths to a reversal include the measure lapsing in Congress, rejection by the Chamber of Deputies or the Federal Senate, or being overturned by the Supreme Federal Court. Opposition figure Flavio Bolsonaro has criticised the blanket ban and argued for preserving sports betting. Kaizen, active in 20 markets, closed its statement by saying that prohibition is not protection and that rules, oversight and education are.