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Brazil’s Betting Ban: Senate Consultation Shows Overwhelming Public Support, Political Runoff Looms

By jili tutorial · October 6, 2026

Brazil’s Betting Ban: Senate Consultation Shows Overwhelming Public Support, Political Runoff Looms

Overview

On 25 September 2024, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Provisional Measure No. 1.394, imposing a sweeping ban on fixed-odds betting across the country. The measure took effect immediately, halting operations, advertising, and intermediation of sports betting and online casino games. As the ban’s 10‑day compliance deadline approaches (6 October), a Senate consultation has revealed that nearly 86% of participating citizens support the measure. With a presidential runoff scheduled for 25 October—the same day all licences are set to expire—the future of Brazil’s gambling market hangs in the balance.

This guide unpacks the ban’s details, the Senate consultation results, the political battle between Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, and the industry’s urgent legal challenge.

H2: What Provisional Measure No. 1.394 Actually Does

H3: Scope of the Ban

The provisional measure outlaws the operation, offering, intermediation, and advertising of fixed‑odds betting. This covers:

H3: Timetable and Key Deadlines

DateEvent
25 September 2024Measure signed and published; takes effect immediately
6 October 2024Licensed operators must take all websites and apps offline (10‑day window)
25 October 2024All licences expire; no refund of licence fees, no compensation
Within 120 days (excluding recess)Congress must approve the measure or it automatically lapses

The government’s shutdown timetable is strict: operators have only ten days from publication to cease online presence. After 25 October, every existing licence becomes void, leaving the market in legal limbo.

H3: How Provisional Measures Work in Brazil

A provisional measure is a tool the president can use to enact laws quickly in cases of urgency. It has immediate legal force but must be approved by Congress within 120 session days (not counting parliamentary recess). If Congress does not approve the measure within that period, it lapses entirely. Given the ban’s drastic reduction of a previously regulated industry, its long‑term survival is uncertain.

H2: Senate Consultation: Overwhelming Support for the Ban

H3: e-Cidadania Portal Results

By 07:10 on 5 October, the Senate’s e-Cidadania portal had recorded:

That gives the ban 85.6% support—roughly six to one in favour, according to calculations based on the portal’s figures.

H3: How the Consultation Works

Any citizen registered on the e-Cidadania portal can participate, and each person may vote only once per proposal. Alisson Bruno, who coordinates the programme, explained to Rádio Senado that the tool “works as a barometer for the senators” but does not bind their decision. Despite its non‑binding nature, the strong showing signals public sentiment and may influence how senators vote when the measure comes before Congress.

H3: Public Campaigns to Support the Ban

Several organisations actively encouraged their members to vote:

These efforts helped drive the high turnout and demonstrate that the ban has grassroots support, particularly from labour and civil society groups concerned about gambling addiction and household debt.

H2: Political Context – Lula vs. Flávio Bolsonaro

H3: First‑Round Election Results

On 4 October, the first round of Brazil’s presidential election produced a narrow result:

Because no candidate secured more than 50%, a runoff is scheduled for 25 October—the very day the betting licences are due to expire.

H3: Bolsonaro’s Position on Betting

Flávio Bolsonaro has been a vocal critic of the ban. Speaking to journalists in Rio de Janeiro on 25 September, he called the measure “a populist, hypocritical, electioneering act” and questioned whether it would outlast the election. He added: “No one can guarantee that after the election he [Lula] won’t open everything up again.”

However, Bolsonaro does not favour a completely free market. He has stated that, if elected, he would ban online casino games (including the “Tigrinho” slot) but keep fixed‑odds sports betting, as reported by IstoÉ Dinheiro. This position represents a middle ground between total prohibition and the previous regulated regime.

H3: Lula’s Justification for the Ban

President Lula defended the ban at a campaign event in São Paulo on 26 September. Quoted by Correio Braziliense, he said (translated from Portuguese): “Whoever wants to make money should find an honest way to make it, not by killing poor people, putting poor people into debt, and selling lies.” His comments highlight the government’s concerns that gambling preys on vulnerable populations, a theme that resonates with many of his supporters.

H3: The October 25 Showdown

The coincidence of the runoff election with the licence‑expiry date creates high stakes. If Lula wins, the ban is likely to stay in place—at least until Congress reviews it. If Bolsonaro wins, a reversal or modification could come quickly, especially for sports betting. The outcome will shape Brazil’s gambling landscape for years.

H2: Industry Response – Legal Challenge at the Supreme Court

H3: Filing by ANJL and IBJR

On 28 September, two major industry bodies—the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) —filed a petition with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend the measure. In a statement, the IBJR argued that the ban is unconstitutional because it “bans an activity the federal government itself regulated over the past two years” and that “changing the rules abruptly undermines confidence in Brazil.”

Justice Luiz Fux, who is handling the case, gave the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) 72 hours to respond on 2 October, as reported by Agência Brasil. No ruling had been published at the time of writing. Industry observers expect a decision soon, given the 6 October deadline.

H3: Other Parties Seeking to Join

Several football clubs and broadcasters have sought to intervene, citing lost sponsorship and advertising revenue. The clubs include:

The Brazilian Association of Radio and TV Broadcasters has also requested to join. Their participation underscores how deeply the betting industry is woven into Brazilian sports and media.

H2: What the Ban Means for Operators

H3: Immediate Operational Impact

Licensed operators must take their websites and mobile apps offline from 6 October. Failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions under the provisional measure. The ban covers all fixed‑odds betting—online casinos, slots, and sportsbooks alike.

H3: Financial Losses and No Compensation

Article 4 of the measure states that all licences end on 25 October, with no refund of licence fees and no compensation. Operators who invested millions in obtaining licences (often through a tendering process) face a total write‑off. The European gaming industry has been particularly affected, as many major European operators had entered the Brazilian market.

H3: Congressional Approval Timeline

If Congress does not approve the provisional measure within 120 session days (excluding recess), it will lapse, effectively restoring the previous regulatory framework. However, that timeline could extend well into 2025. Operators and investors are left in a state of uncertainty, unsure whether to wait out the period or exit Brazil permanently.

H2: Conclusion – A Pivotal Moment for Brazil’s Betting Market

The provisional measure has ignited a fierce debate about regulation, consumer protection, and economic freedom. The Senate consultation shows strong public backing, but the industry is fighting back in court and through the political process. The runoff election on 25 October will be decisive: a Lula victory likely cements the ban (at least for now), while a Bolsonaro win could bring back sports betting but keep online casinos outlawed.

With operators racing to shut down, courts weighing a constitutional challenge, and voters heading to the polls, Brazil’s gambling sector is at a crossroads. The next few weeks will determine not only the fate of millions of dollars in investments but also the future of how Brazilians can legally bet—or whether they can bet at all.