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IAGR names Brazil betting official as latest Board of Trustee member

By jili tutorial · September 16, 2026

IAGR Appoints Brazil’s Deputy Secretary of Betting Regulation to Board of Trustees

Overview of the Appointment

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has welcomed Fabio Macorin, Deputy Secretary of Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), to its Board of Trustees. Macorin, who joined Brazil’s Ministry of Finance in 2024, played a central role in launching the country’s federal betting regulatory framework in January 2025. His appointment brings a critical South American perspective to the IAGR board at a time when regulators worldwide face increasingly interconnected challenges—from illegal gambling markets to money laundering and consumer protection.

Brazil’s Rapid Regulatory Transformation: Context and Milestones

Brazil’s gambling regulation is still in its infancy, with the federal framework barely two years old. The SPA, created under the Ministry of Finance, was tasked with building a comprehensive licensing, monitoring, and enforcement system from scratch. Key milestones include:

Macorin’s responsibilities at the SPA focused on four pillars:

Example: One of the immediate challenges Macorin helped address was the proliferation of offshore betting sites targeting Brazilian consumers. The SPA implemented a licensing regime that requires operators to maintain local bank accounts, submit transaction reports, and undergo regular audits—measures that had not existed before 2025.

The Role of IAGR and Its Board of Trustees

The International Association of Gaming Regulators is the leading global network for public-sector gambling regulators. Its mission is to foster cooperation, share best practices, and develop common standards across jurisdictions. The Board of Trustees comprises senior regulators from diverse regions, ensuring that IAGR’s guidance reflects a broad range of legal systems and market conditions.

Ben Haden, IAGR President, highlighted the strategic value of Macorin’s appointment:

“Fabio’s appointment brings to the IAGR Board of Trustees an important South American perspective at a time when the world’s regulators are confronting similar cross-border challenges. Brazil has undertaken an ambitious regulatory transformation in a remarkably short period of time, and Fabio’s experience at the center of that process will provide valuable insights to regulators across our global membership.”

Fabio Macorin’s Background: From Federal Police to Regulatory Architect

Before joining the Ministry of Finance, Macorin spent 17 years with the Brazilian Federal Police, including 10 years specializing in investigating and preventing banking and financial fraud. This law enforcement background gives him a unique vantage point for tackling the illegal gambling market—a domain where organized crime and financial crime often intersect.

His dual expertise in fraud investigation and regulatory design makes him well-suited to address the following global regulatory pain points:

Global Implications: Why Macorin’s Appointment Matters Beyond Brazil

Macorin’s arrival at the IAGR board signals that South American regulatory maturity is now a key resource for the global community. Many jurisdictions—especially in emerging markets—are at similar stages of building or overhauling their gambling frameworks. Brazil’s fast-tracked approach offers lessons in:

Macorin himself underscored this shared challenge:

“Brazil has learned enormously from the experience of regulators around the world while building our own regulatory framework, and I see IAGR as one of the most important forums for this exchange of knowledge. Although each jurisdiction has its own legal system, market characteristics, and regulatory priorities, many of the challenges we face are increasingly global. Combating the illegal market, preventing money laundering, protecting consumers, and ensuring the integrity of betting require greater cooperation among regulators across borders.”

Upcoming IAGR Annual Conference: A Platform for Knowledge Exchange

Macorin will appear as a Board of Trustee member at the IAGR Annual Conference in Lima, Peru, scheduled for 19–22 October. The conference will bring together regulators, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends, including:

Brazil’s recent experience—both its successes and its ongoing political challenges—will be a central topic of discussion.

Conclusion: A Strategic Addition to Global Regulatory Leadership

Fabio Macorin’s appointment to the IAGR Board of Trustees reflects a growing recognition that effective gambling regulation requires not only domestic competence but also international solidarity. As Brazil navigates its next phase—potentially banning online casinos or tightening existing rules—Macorin’s voice will help ensure that the global regulatory community learns from Brazil’s journey and contributes to solving shared problems.