From the Lottery to the Platform

Regulation, Datafication, and Rationalization of Sports Betting in Contemporary Brazil

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2026/100988

This article analyzes the development of Brazilian legislation on sports betting, highlighting the transition from a prohibitive model to a regulatory framework that incorporates economic, technological, and communicational dimensions. It argues that the increasing metrification of sport and the datafication of social life have transformed
the act of betting, converting what was originally a ludic practice into a rationalized activity, particularly with the expansion of digital platforms. Through a critical reading of previous legislation and Law No. 14,790/2023, the article identifies both advances and shortcomings in addressing the contemporary challenges facing the sector, especially regarding the tension between state revenue generation, regulation, and social protection. From a theoretical perspective, the article draws on the contributions of Max Weber, Michel Foucault, Pierre Dardot, Christian Laval and Wendy Brown to examine how rationalization, governmentality and mediatization contribute to the formation of subjectivities oriented toward calculation, risk management, and performance.