Brazilian lawmakers propose amendments to soften betting ban

Brazilian lawmakers submitted amendments to Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, the measure that banned all fixed-odds betting in Brazil, with the deadline for Congress amendments now passed. The amendments are to be reviewed by a joint committee, and lawsuits concerning the measure remain pending, according to a report on 14 October.

The source states that 92 suggestions were submitted and that all of them would alter the original measure, with differing scope. Amendments 61 through 64 would restore operator licences and instead impose stricter rules on advertising, responsible play, technology provider registration, and gambling harm detection and prevention. Other suggestions would ban casino-style gambling while keeping the sports betting market, with tighter rules on sponsorships, brand placement on uniforms and the use of AI in marketing; some of these would also prohibit bets on individual in-game events. Further proposals include time limits on wagering, bans on certain bet types, session limits, affordability checks and risk-management systems, while some amendments would make it impossible to reverse the ban through an administrative act.

The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) said that more than 3,500 workers have already been laid off as operators cut costs amid the uncertainty, and estimated that job cuts could reach 5,600 within 90 days. The association also estimated that the country could lose about $14.7bn in tax revenue. The source reports that most lawmakers recognise a ban will not remove demand for betting and that Brazilians will migrate to offshore operators that often lack consumer protections, have insufficient money laundering safeguards and contribute no tax revenue.

The measure was introduced by President Lula and banned all types of fixed-odds betting in Brazil. The source reports that the measure is not final and is under scrutiny in Congress, and that many industry stakeholders fear the damage may already have been done.