Brazil has made a sharp turn on online gambling.
On September 25, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Provisional Measure No. 1,394, banning the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting across Brazil.
The measure covers both sports betting and virtual events in online games. It also applies to operators based outside Brazil if they offer these products to people located in the country.
For players, the transition has already started.
Brazil starts enforcing the betting ban
Brazil has begun enforcing the ban. On September 29, authorities requested action against 5,209 betting-related domains. Anatel had already ordered the blocking of 2,387 domains.
A total of 300 Facebook pages and 90 Instagram profiles were removed. Notices were also issued for 186 betting apps to be removed from Apple and Google app stores by October 6.
Payment providers and financial institutions must block transactions destined for fixed-odds betting. Transactions needed to wind down operations and return players’ money remain permitted.
This goes further than the earlier proposal to ban online casinos while keeping sports betting, which we covered on September 21.
What changes for players
The first restriction took effect immediately on September 25: new deposits into betting accounts are no longer allowed.
According to the government’s published transition schedule, players have until 11:59 p.m. on October 5 to withdraw their remaining balances directly from betting platforms.
From October 6, operators must make their betting websites and apps unavailable.
Open bets that have not been settled by the shutdown deadline will be cancelled and the stake must be returned in full. Winnings from bets settled before the deadline must still be paid.
The government has also set out a process for returning balances that remain after platforms shut down, using banks and payment institutions.
The ban is broader than sports betting
One important detail in the new measure is the wording around online games.
The measure explicitly includes virtual events in online games within the fixed-odds betting ban. It defines an online game as a virtual wager where the result is determined by a future random event generated through numbers, symbols, figures or other objects.
That makes the change relevant to the online casino side of Brazil’s regulated gambling market as well as traditional sportsbooks.
It does not, however, mean that every type of digital game or lottery has suddenly been prohibited. Other lottery products that are separately authorized under Brazilian law are excluded from the measure.
What happens to licensed betting operators?
Brazil had already built a regulated betting market before this decision.
According to the government, 85 authorizations had been issued to fixed-odds betting operators. Each authorization cost R$30 million, bringing total licensing payments to approximately R$2.55 billion.
Under the new measure, existing federal, state and district betting authorizations are being terminated.
Betting sites must stop providing access after the initial transition period, while the existing authorizations are formally set to expire 30 days after the measure was published.
New betting licenses and pending applications are also blocked.
What this means for Brazil’s gambling market
The change is significant because Brazil had only recently moved toward a fully regulated online betting system.
Now, instead of tightening selected rules or limiting particular casino products, the government has moved to prohibit the fixed-odds betting model itself.
For players, the most important date is October 5. Anyone with money remaining on an affected betting platform has until then to withdraw it directly before the shutdown process begins.
For gambling sites, affiliates and comparison services, Brazil also needs to be treated differently while the new measure is in force. Casino availability, betting offers and GEO rules aimed at Brazilian users will need to reflect the new restrictions.
Enforcement is already underway: betting domains are being blocked and payment restrictions are in force. Affected betting websites and apps are scheduled to go offline from October 6, while transactions needed to wind down operations and return players’ money remain permitted.
Sources: Provisional Measure No. 1,394 — Presidency of Brazil / Planalto; Brazilian government announcement — Ministry of Health, September 25, 2026.
