Brazil, which opened a licensed online betting market less than two years ago, banned it overnight on 25 September. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, which prohibits the operation, offer, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting in the country. The ban covers both sports betting and online casino games, took effect on publication, and blocked new deposits into betting accounts.
How the ban was rolled out
Under the measure, customers had until 5 October to withdraw their balances, after which betting sites and apps were required to go offline. The government said the move was needed to tackle household debt and a public health problem, citing addiction, depression and suicide. Lula described it as “a hard, drastic and necessary measure”, according to the Associated Press.
The timing drew criticism. The decree was signed just over a week before the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, and Lula’s main rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, called it an electoral measure. The government has also drafted a separate bill to create criminal offences linked to fixed-odds betting, such as promoting it.
A provisional measure in Brazil has the force of law straight away, but Congress must approve it within 120 days or it lapses.
The industry’s legal challenge
Two industry groups, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), have asked the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend the measure. They argue it is unconstitutional, lacks the urgency a provisional measure requires and was introduced without impact studies. Their filing says 85 licensed companies each paid BRL 30m for their concessions, and that the government could face around BRL 2.5bn in refunds.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGU) is defending the ban. Justice Luiz Fux, who is handling the case, did not suspend the measure. In an order dated 26 October he instead called a public hearing for 3 November in Brasília, with government bodies, industry representatives, the Brazilian Football Confederation and several football clubs among the participants. The industry has also asked, as a fallback, to be allowed to keep operating until the end of 2026.
Impact on international operators
Brazil had become one of the world’s largest regulated betting markets, and several listed operators have already reported the damage. Entain said its Brazilian revenue fell 36% in the third quarter, even though the ban only applied for the last few days of it, and that its local business is complying with the measure. Industry groups warn that a ban pushes players towards unlicensed sites that offer no consumer protection.
What it means for players
For players in Brazil, licensed betting is currently unavailable, and any site still accepting Brazilian customers is operating outside the law. Those sites offer no regulator to complain to if winnings are withheld. Anyone who missed the 5 October withdrawal deadline should contact the operator directly and keep records of their account balance.
For everyone else, the episode is a sharp reminder that gambling rules can change at very short notice. Keep balances low, withdraw winnings regularly and only use sites licensed by the regulator where you live. Our responsible gambling page lists free support services if gambling is causing financial pressure.
Sources
- Brazil's president bans online betting less than two years after launch (CDC Gaming Reports (Associated Press))
- Brazil's Attorney General's Office responds to Supreme Court betting ban challenge (iGaming Business)
- Brazil's top court to hear government and industry on betting ban (G3 Newswire)
Written in our own words from the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it and log it on our corrections page.
About the author
The BettingSeeker News Desk covers regulation, operator news and safer gambling developments in the UK, the US and Canada. Every story is based on primary sources such as regulator announcements, government publications and company filings, or on reporting by established news outlets, and every source is linked at the end of the article.
- Gambling regulation in the UK, US and Canada
- Sports betting and online casino legalisation
- Operator and industry news