Online betting in Brazil is banned (October 2026)

On 25 September 2026 the Brazilian government published Provisional Measure (MP) 1,394, which bans the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting in Brazil, online and in person. The ban covers sports betting and online games, so online casino games are caught too. It applies to foreign operators that take bets from people in Brazil, not only to local licence holders. Caixa lotteries such as Mega-Sena, and other lotteries authorised by law, are not affected.

The measure took effect on publication. New deposits were barred from 25 September, player withdrawals closed at 23:59 on 5 October 2026 and licensed sites began going offline on 6 October. The roughly 85 federal licences, which cost R$30 million each, are all extinguished on 25 October 2026, and operators do not get their fees back.

What happens to balances and payments

Operators had to send player balances and bank details so that money left in betting accounts could be returned. Banks were due to pay remaining balances into players’ own bank accounts between 9 and 14 October 2026, and Caixa Econômica Federal handles any returns that fail.

If you were owed money and it has not arrived, check the account you used for Pix or TED, keep records of your balance and contact your bank. Nobody has to pay a fee to get a balance back: messages offering to "recover" betting funds for a fee are a common scam after a market closes.

Winnings already received are still taxable. Under the rule explained for the 2026 income tax return, 15% is due on net betting winnings above R$28,467.20 a year, and losses on other bets cannot be deducted. Check with the Receita Federal or an accountant.

Offshore and crypto casinos

The ban explicitly covers operators based abroad that offer bets to people in Brazil. By 29 September 2026, 5,209 domains had been referred for blocking (3,823 by the Prizes and Betting Secretariat and 1,386 by the Ministry of Justice), and Anatel had ordered 2,387 blocked. Even before the ban, licensed sites could not accept crypto under SPA/MF Ordinance 615/2024. An offshore crypto casino that still accepts Brazilians is operating illegally there, and players would have no local protection if a payout were refused.

For that reason we do not list any operator for Brazil. We will review the market again if the ban is suspended by the courts, changed by Congress or allowed to lapse.

Court challenges and the Congress vote

A provisional measure has the force of law straight away but must be approved by Congress to become permanent. It lasts 60 days, extended automatically for another 60, so up to 120 days in all; if Congress does not vote in time, it lapses. As of mid-October 2026 the measure was still with the joint committee and had not been voted on.

Three constitutional challenges (ADI 8024, 8027 and 8028) are before Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux. On 6 October 2026 the Attorney General’s Office asked him to keep the ban in place, and as of 14 October there was no ruling. A UOL columnist reported on 8 October that Justice Fux may wait until after the presidential run-off; this has not been confirmed. If the court suspends the measure, the previous regulated-market rules would apply again while the case continues. A federal court in São Paulo had let one operator keep running until 25 October; reports say that decision was later overturned.

The situation is changing week by week. Check official sources such as the Ministry of Finance and the Diário Oficial da União before acting on any of this information.

Getting help

If gambling is causing you problems, or the end of legal betting has left you with debts or worries, free support is available. The CVV helpline offers emotional support on 188 at any time; it is not gambling-specific. Brazil’s public health system (SUS) treats gambling problems through CAPS centres, which you can find via Disque Saúde 136. Jogadores Anônimos runs peer support groups, and PRO-AMJO at the Institute of Psychiatry of Hospital das Clínicas (IPq-HCFMUSP) in São Paulo runs a specialist clinic.

The Ministry of Finance’s centralised self-exclusion platform on gov.br, live since 10 December 2025, had recorded more than 1.1 million exclusions by August 2026. It applies to licensed operators only. Our responsible gambling guide lists more practical tools.

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