Brazilian lawmaker Rodrigo Rollemberg has tabled a bill that would ban fixed-odds betting in the country, covering both land-based and online operations, including those run from overseas.
Bill 2,972/26 would prohibit the operation, offering, advertising and transaction processing connected to betting. The legislation would repeal Law 14,790/23, which currently underpins the sector's entire regulatory framework. The ban would extend to betting brands, algorithms, systems and commercial structures, as well as all forms of marketing, sponsorship and advertising.
Rollemberg, a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB-DF), argues that the social and economic costs of betting outweigh tax revenue. Fines under the bill range from R$50,000 to R$2bn. Half of fine revenue would go to the National Health Fund, 30% to the Diffuse Rights Protection Fund, and 20% to the National Fund for Children and Adolescents.
Operators with more than 1 million users would be required to maintain complaint channels, conduct audits and publish monthly content moderation reports. Debtors could declare vulnerability during collection proceedings and receive protection for up to five years. Advertising targeted at children is banned, as is the use of influencers for promotion.
The Finance Ministry reports that more than 25.2 million people used betting platforms in 2025. Over 217,000 requested self-exclusion, with 73.4% opting for an indefinite period.
The bill will pass through five committees in the Chamber of Deputies before moving to the Senate. The issue is coming to the fore ahead of the 2026 presidential election: President Lula da Silva has stepped up his criticism of betting, as have candidates such as Romeu Zema. For the market, this is a direct threat.
