Brazil government seeks December approval for proposed betting ban

Brazil's proposed ban on fixed-odds betting, set out in Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394/2026, had not begun formal committee proceedings in Congress, according to Congress's website. Members have been nominated, but no committee president or rapporteur has been appointed, which has prevented consideration of 94 outstanding amendments.

Of the 99 amendments put forward at the outset, five were later dropped. One came from Senator Dr. Hiran (PP-RR), who wants betting confined to genuine sporting events, with "tigrinho" and similar games of chance left out. Representative Julio Arcoverde (PP-PI) took a narrower approach: bar only unauthorised operators, and refuse refunds of concession fees or any compensation. Senator Sergeant Reginauro (PSDB-CE) and Representative Captain Alden (PL-BA) were each responsible for 17 amendments.

Institutional Relations Minister José Guimarães (PT) said on Tuesday 27 October that the government intends to secure approval of the betting measure, the Public Security Constitutional Amendment and the Zero Fare Constitutional Amendment for public transport before 20 December. "If we vote on these three major agendas, we will already be satisfied," he said, adding that the administration remained committed to the betting prohibition. "We will not give up on this."

On November 9 the text moves into an expedited legislative procedure, at which point it starts blocking the agenda of whichever chamber takes it up. Its first 60-day window closes on November 23, after which an automatic extension applies. Because the legislative clock is paused over the December 23-February 1 recess, BNLData's calculation puts expiry at March 4, 2027, should the measure fail to win approval.

The proposal also faces judicial scrutiny. Supreme Federal Court Justice Luiz Fux, who upheld its validity, has scheduled a hearing on 3 November involving government representatives, gambling companies and football clubs.

Federal receipts from betting operators would be lost under the ban, as would the money earmarked by Law 14.790/2023 for sport, tourism and the National Public Security Fund. These fiscal questions arise while Congress takes up the 2027 budget, which arrived on August 31. With mandatory outlays at 91.7% of federal expenditures, only 8.3% remains for investments and public services, and further adjustments are needed to fit campaign commitments.