Brazil Betting Ban Faces Pushback With 99 Amendments

Brazil's betting ban faces fresh resistance in Congress. Lawmakers filed 99 amendments to Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 by the Oct. 13 deadline. Members of the Centrão, a loose bloc of center-right parties, plan to push for changes after the Oct. 25 presidential runoff. One proposal would restore sports betting while keeping online casinos banned.

The measure has been in force since Sept. 25. It prohibits the operation, offer, intermediation, and advertising of fixed-odds betting nationwide. Congress has until Nov. 23 to vote on the text. Operators argue that a sports-only fix would not save the market.

Centrão Plans Post-Runoff Push to Narrow Lula's Betting Ban

Centrão lawmakers want to amend President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's measure and plan to resume talks after the second-round vote, Folha de S.Paulo reported.

The lawmakers behind the effort have ties to betting companies, soccer clubs, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Some see a victory by Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula's runoff opponent, as more favorable to change.

Bolsonaro has criticized the ban and signaled that sports betting should continue, though he has not said whether he would back restoring it.

He has also pledged to ban online casinos if elected.

Backers of the changes believe there is still room to negotiate if Lula wins. Federal Deputy Bebeto of the Progressistas party, who represents Rio de Janeiro, filed four amendments on Oct. 5 and a fifth on Oct. 10. His proposals would limit the ban to platforms that lack Finance Ministry authorization. "That is where the real risks for consumers, sporting integrity, and public revenue are concentrated," he said.

What Happens Next for the Ban Before the Nov. 23 Deadline

Senate President Davi Alcolumbre extended the amendment window to Oct. 13. The original deadline was Oct. 1, according to congressional records. By the Oct. 13 deadline, lawmakers had filed 99 amendments, five of which were later withdrawn.

A joint committee is expected to form in November to review the text. The ban remains in effect while lawmakers debate it. Under Congress's official calendar, deliberation runs from Sept. 25 to Nov. 23. Starting Nov. 9, the measure gains urgency status, which locks the floor agenda until it is voted on.

If Congress does not vote by Nov. 23, the measure expires. Any approved amendments would turn the text into a conversion bill. That bill would then go to the president for signature or veto.

Operators Reject Sports-Only Fix as Ban's Costs Mount

Industry representatives say sports betting alone would not preserve sponsorships or tax revenue. They argue that online casinos generate about 70% of operators' earnings. Betting companies paid nearly BRL 9 billion (US$1.8 billion) in taxes in 2025.

The ban's effects are already visible. Apple and Google removed betting apps from their Brazilian stores on Oct. 6. About BRL 1.32 billion (US$264.5 million) was left in bettors' accounts after the Oct. 5 withdrawal deadline. Banks have since returned more than BRL 1 billion (US$200 million), and about BRL 159 million (US$31.7 million) remained to be refunded as of Oct. 13.

Soccer clubs have also joined the pushback. Flamengo played Santos on Oct. 8 wearing a protest message on its jerseys. The message read "Proibir não é proteger" (To ban is not to protect). Flamengo estimates the ban could cost it up to BRL 430 million (US$85.7 million).