Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government is considering further action on the betting market after ministers and civil society representatives met at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília.
The 1 September meeting, coordinated by Lula, focused on the effects of betting on Brazilian society and sport and the government’s next steps. As of 9 September, no new betting-related Medida Provisória, or provisional measure, had been published by the Presidency.
These latest measures in the official register are MP 1,389 and MP 1,390, both dated 8 September and linked to budget credits unrelated to gambling. Under Article 62 of Brazil’s Constitution, the president can issue a provisional measure in cases of relevance and urgency.
An MP has immediate legal effect once published but must be submitted to Congress and expires after 60 days unless converted into law, with a 60-day extension.
Existing federal framework continues to govern betting operations
Brazil’s current betting regime is based mainly on Law 14,790, approved in December 2023. The law regulates fixed-odds betting and allows authorised wagering on real sporting events and virtual online games.
Operators require approval from the Ministry of Finance. Since 1 January 2025, only companies authorised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting have been permitted to operate nationally.
The SPA has continued working under the 2026–2027 regulatory agenda. Initiatives include reviewing operator authorisation procedures and rules covering payment transactions linked to unauthorised betting businesses.
Enforcement against illegal betting operators has intensified
The government has improved enforcement against illegal operators in recent months. In June, Lula issued Decree 13,033, establishing procedures for blocking accounts linked to irregular fixed-odds betting operators and preventing new transactions supporting illegal activity.
Advertising rules were tightened in July, requiring betting adverts to display risk warnings and introducing stronger safeguards for children and adolescents. On 3 September, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security established a procedure for pursuing the forfeiture of funds blocked from illegal operators.
The ministry said more than BRL1 billion, approximately $197 million, had been blocked in connection with illegal betting operations. Those funds can only become Union assets after the administrative process and a judicial forfeiture decision.
In addition, the government has been considering its next steps for the sector, but no new betting-related legal measure has been formally announced. This leaves speculation around additional product restrictions or changes to the betting regime unconfirmed.
Brazil’s next phase of regulation looks more focused on enforcement actions. With account blocking, tighter advertising rules and payment controls already in place, the bigger question is how far the government will go before additional restrictions start affecting channelisation.
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