Brazilian government seeks Congress approval for fixed-odds betting ban

Brazil's government plans to put three proposals to Congress by 20 December in an effort to secure their approval, including Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, which prohibits fixed-odds betting. The priorities were set out by the Minister for Institutional Relations, José Guimarães, on Tuesday, 27 October. On the betting prohibition, Guimarães said: "We will not give this up."

The provisional measure has not yet entered substantive review. The joint congressional committee that will examine it has not been installed, and neither its chair nor its rapporteur has been appointed. Lawmakers have proposed 99 amendments, five of which were withdrawn, leaving 94 under consideration. The proposals range from limiting gambling to live sporting events to restricting the ban to illegal operators, and others would consider refunding licensing fees to betting companies or providing compensation.

The proposal is awaiting action in a single chamber, where it will begin halting that chamber's legislative work on 9 November. Its term runs for 60 days, and on 23 November, when that term ends, a further 60 days are added automatically. Assuming the congressional calendar unfolds as reported, the measure stays in force through 4 March 2027 and is suspended while the legislature is in recess.

Court challenges are another front for the betting measure. Its legality has been left untouched by Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux, who scheduled a public hearing for 3 November. Industry representatives, football clubs and the federal government are due to take part. That session falls less than a week before the measure takes effect and starts to obstruct the legislative agenda.

Guimarães said a fiscal adjustment package would not be at the top of the government's agenda before the end of the year. "This issue has not been discussed, and it is not being discussed, least of all here in the parliamentary group," he said. The position contrasts with that of Finance Minister Dario Durigan, who has insisted on measures to limit spending.

A further task for Congress is approving the 2027 federal budget, sent on 31 August as Bill PLN 24/2026. Mandatory spending claims all but 8.3% of the budget, so 91.7% is left for investments and the upkeep of public services. Demographic pressures and legal requirements for changes also constrain the resources available. According to the source, a betting ban could deepen these problems, since it would cut off the federal revenue and transfers that betting operators provide to beneficiaries of the betting system, including sports, tourism and the National Public Security Fund, as set out in Law No. 14,790/2023.

Free public transport has likewise received the government's backing, though Guimarães said the price tag was unclear: "Nobody knows how much needs to be disbursed or not." Meeting the 20 December target will depend on help from Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, Chamber of Deputies President Hugo Motta and other congressional leaders, with the short legislative calendar, public holidays and the approaching year-end recess leaving fewer voting days. The Public Security Amendment remains in the Senate and would have to return to the Chamber of Deputies should senators alter its text. As for the free public transit measure, it must still clear the Chamber's Constitution and Justice Committee and a special committee.