President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional measure banning online sports betting and casino operations in Brazil. The decree was issued on 25 September, less than three years after he signed Law 14.790 establishing the regulatory framework for the market.
The measure prohibits operations, offers, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting across the country. Customers were given until 5 October to withdraw balances. Operator websites and apps shut down from 6 October, with remaining funds returned through partner banks by 14 October. Federal licences are revoked 30 days after the decree's publication.
Operators receive no refund of licensing fees or government compensation. International groups including Betano, bet365 and Entain invested heavily in the transition to licensed operations. Advertising must be removed within 10 days. Financial institutions are required to stop processing gambling transactions except player withdrawals.
Authorities created an inter-agency committee to combat illegal betting and began blocking sites that were legal the day before. No new federal approvals will be issued; pending applications are void.
The provisional measure takes effect immediately but requires Congressional approval within 120 days. The government intends to introduce separate legislation criminalising betting activity. Lula cited household debt and gambling harm ahead of elections; the announcement came with debt restructuring measures covering up to R$150 billion.
The regulated sector was meant to bring a large offshore market into the legal perimeter. Authorities must now block both licensed and offshore operators — the line between them erased. The freeze threatens suppliers, affiliates, payment services, sports organisations and broadcasters that tied their business to the Brazilian market.
