Brazil's government has set 6 October as the deadline for shutting down the country's regulated betting market. Operators are barred from accepting deposits and must disable access to sites and applications by that date.
Provisional Measure No. 1,394, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 25 September, prohibits the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting across Brazil. The measure covers wagers on real sporting events and online games through physical and virtual channels, including offshore operators serving Brazilian residents. It took effect immediately. New player deposits have been prohibited since publication. Players can withdraw available balances until 23:59 on 5 October, after which operators must close platform access.
Unsettled bets at the time of shutdown will be voided, with operators required to refund stake amounts in full. Winnings on bets settled before the deadline must be paid out. Within two days of shutdown, operators must ensure funds are available and provide banks with data on amounts owed to each player, including CPF number, sum and the account from which payment originated. Banks will process refunds between 9 and 14 October to the player's active account, preferably the one from which funds were sent. Where refunds cannot be completed, money will be transferred to a designated account at Caixa Econômica Federal.
The measure also bans advertising, marketing and sponsorship related to betting across all media. New contracts are prohibited immediately; existing material must be removed by 23:59 on 5 October. Violations may be classified as advertising abuse under the Consumer Protection Code.
The provisional measure runs for 60 days and can be extended for another 60 if Congress does not complete its review. Congress can approve, amend or reject it. The industry is preparing a coordinated legal response through the Supreme Court, aiming to secure an injunction and continue legal operations. Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), put the probability of joint action at 98%.
