Brazil’s National Congress has given lawmakers another 60 days to consider the government’s nationwide ban on online gambling. The extension keeps Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 in force while Parliament discusses what to do with it. The measure could be in effect until March 4, 2027, due to the upcoming legislative recess.
Brazil’s Betting Ban Remains in Force After 60-Day Extension
The extension was signed by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre and published in Brazil’s Official Gazette on November 11. On September 25, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a provisional measure suspending online sports betting, casino games and related advertising nationwide.
The ban came into effect immediately, meaning licensed operators would stop taking new bets and make refunds for customer balances that were still to be paid out. However, the measure still needs congressional approval to become permanent legislation.
The proposal must be reviewed by a joint committee of senators and deputies before being sent to both houses for a final vote. Legislators have been nominated, but the committee has not yet begun its work.
Congress has received 99 proposed amendments, five of which were later withdrawn. Several legislators want to bring back regulated sports betting but keep online casino games illegal. Other proposals include tougher rules on advertising and bans on gambling sponsorships involving sports teams, stadiums and competitions.
Government representatives have told Parliament it should resolve the issue before the end of 2026. However, the extended deadline gives lawmakers until early March 2027 to complete the process. If Congress does not pass the measure in the allocated time, it will lose its legal effect.
Brazil’s Betting Shutdown Sparks Legal Disputes and Job Losses
A new legislative campaign called Health Is Not a Gamble has joined the debate. The initiative, which has the backing of legislators and public health groups, considers the harm caused by gambling a public health issue. It also calls for tighter regulation of promotions, advertising and sponsorship deals.
Four constitutional challenges have been filed against the ban by groups representing the gambling industry. The Supreme Federal Court (STF) is checking whether the government could have imposed such broad restrictions by provisional measure.
Justice Luiz Fux has suspended lower court proceedings challenging the ban, awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. The move comes at the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General to avoid conflicting rulings in different jurisdictions.
Some operators had obtained temporary court orders to continue operating before the suspension. Those authorizations were later overturned.
The shutdown has already caused major disruption in Brazil’s gambling industry. The measure had left more than 3,500 people out of a job and thousands more on collective leave, earlier reports said.
Industry representatives have also warned that the removal of licensed operators could push customers to offshore websites. Research firm Blask had earlier estimated that up to 21.6 million Brazilian bettors could switch to unregulated platforms.
The government says the restrictions are needed to cope with the financial and social problems caused by gambling. It estimates that in 2025, Brazilian households will spend BRL 62.5 billion ($11.4 billion) on online betting.
The extension therefore leaves the country’s gambling market in limbo. What becomes of its future in Congress’s review and the Supreme Court’s constitutional assessment remains to be seen.
Brazil’s National Congress has given lawmakers another 60 days to consider the government’s nationwide ban on online gambling. The extension keeps Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 in force while Parliament discusses what to do with it. The measure could be in effect until March 4, 2027, due to the upcoming legislative recess. Brazil’s Betting Ban Remains in