Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a measure banning fixed-odds betting across the country.
The order, signed on Friday, September 25, comes just over a week before Brazil’s first-round presidential election.
The measure immediately stops the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting.
It covers both sports betting and online games. However, other lottery products already authorized under Brazilian law remain outside the ban.
Brazil Betting Ban Targets New Deposits
Under the new measure, betting platforms cannot accept new deposits.
Players have until October 5 to withdraw their remaining funds voluntarily.
From October 6, betting websites and applications are scheduled to go offline. Banks will then handle the return of remaining balances under a government timetable.
The provisional measure took effect immediately. However, it requires congressional approval within the constitutional timeframe to remain in force.
Lula Cites Family Debt Concerns
Lula said the decision was intended to address the financial problems linked to widespread betting.
The president has repeatedly criticized the rapid growth of online betting in Brazil.
He also raised concerns about betting during his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Lula has described the issue as both an economic and public health concern.
Brazil’s Health Ministry said gambling-related problems can involve financial losses, family conflicts, anxiety, depression and other harms.
Government Moves Against Betting Industry
The government has also introduced measures aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal betting.
Brazil’s new rules prohibit betting advertising, marketing and sponsorship. They also provide for stronger action against unauthorized operators.
The government said it will work to block illegal websites and restrict payment channels used by unauthorized betting operators.
According to the Health Ministry, 85 fixed-odds betting authorizations had been granted before the new measure. Each authorization carried a fee of 30 million reais.
Political Debate Over Betting Ban
The timing of the ban has also sparked political debate.
Flávio Bolsonaro, one of Lula’s main political rivals in the election, described the move as an electoral measure, according to AP.
Lula’s government, meanwhile, has presented the policy as a response to the financial and social problems associated with betting.
The measure therefore enters the public debate alongside the wider campaign for Brazil’s October election.
Brazil’s Betting Market Faces Major Change
Brazil legalized sports betting through legislation passed in 2018. The country later established a broader regulatory framework for fixed-odds betting and online games.
The Ministry of Finance says nationally authorized operators began operating under the regulated system in January 2025.
The latest measure now reverses that framework for fixed-odds betting.
It ends betting operations and advertising while the government prepares additional legal measures covering offenses linked to the sector.
Soccer Clubs Warn of Financial Impact
The ban could also affect Brazilian soccer clubs.
Betting companies have become major sponsors across the country’s football industry. Clubs warned that losing sponsorship income could create significant financial pressure.
Some clubs described the potential impact in severe terms, while the debate over the measure continued online.
For Brazil’s betting industry, the new rules represent a major change after years of rapid expansion.
The next stage will depend on congressional consideration of the provisional measure and the government’s efforts to enforce the ban.
