Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional measure on September 25 banning fixed-odds betting and online casinos. The order took immediate effect, halting a market the government had spent two years regulating.
The ban covers all forms of exploitation, offering, intermediation and advertising of bets. Operators can no longer accept deposits. Players must withdraw remaining balances by October 5; sites and apps will be shut down on October 6. Banks will return unwithdrawn funds between October 9 and 14.
By the time of the ban, the Finance Ministry had issued 85 licenses at 30 million reais each—operators paid a combined 2.55 billion reais ($480 million). The government stated no compensation will be paid for lost revenue, investments or expectations of continued operation. License fees will not be refunded.
The measure is effective immediately but must pass through Congress within 120 days. The government also introduced a bill imposing criminal liability for organizing betting, promoting it, using personal data to attract players, and processing related financial transactions. Fines for violations can reach 2 billion reais.
Lula cited social and financial harm from betting. The Health Ministry reported more than 28 million Brazilians bet online in 2023, with 10.9 million showing risky or problem behavior. Medical visits for pathological addiction rose roughly 140% from 2018 to 2025.
The ban hit Brazilian football hard. Top clubs received around 1.1 billion reais ($212 million) from betting companies in 2025. Advertising and sponsorship of betting are also prohibited—operators must remove materials within 10 days. Industry representatives warn demand will shift to illegal operators rather than disappear. Several companies have announced plans to challenge the measure in court.
