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Brazil’s betting ban prompts warnings of illegal-market growth

Regulation

Brazil’s Measure 1,394, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 25 September, prohibits sports betting and online games, according to a media report. The report cited estimates that illegal operators handled about R$43bn of the R$97bn wagered online in 2025 and said 4,700 illegal sites appeared during the first weekend after the measure was published. Sportingbet’s Antonio Forjaz and other named commentators warned the ban could push bettors towards unregulated sites.

Operators face a prohibition that could shift demand towards illegal sites, according to the cited analysis and commentators.

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Regulation

Brazil’s betting ban is forecast to shift R$25bn to illegal operators

A report citing an industry estimate says Brazil’s 25 September 2026 ban on fixed-odds betting could move about R$25bn of betting volume to unlicensed operators. The estimate puts the illegal market at R$42bn, up from R$17bn, while the article says more than 25 million people had used regulated platforms by September.

Brazil's federal government banned the operation, offer, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting across the country on 25 September 2026, according to an opinion article. The article says the measure was Provisional Measure No 1.394.

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