Brazil Extends Online Betting Ban Until March 2027

Brazil’s online betting ban will remain in force until March 2027 after National Congress President Davi Alcolumbre granted a further 60-day extension to the provisional measure introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The decision gives lawmakers additional time to examine the legislation, although the parliamentary committee responsible for reviewing it has yet to begin its work.

Alcolumbre signed Act No. 118/2026 on November 10, with its publication in the Federal Official Gazette following on November 11. The extension applies to Provisional Measure No. 1,394, which Lula signed on September 25 and which immediately suspended the operation of betting platforms across the country.

The original 60-day validity period was due to expire on November 23. Under Brazilian law, provisional measures receive an additional 60 days when Congress has not completed the required voting process. The legislative recess also suspends the countdown, pushing the final deadline for deliberation to March 4, 2027, according to SBC News.

The extension gives the betting industry additional time to seek changes to the government’s proposal. However, the eventual outcome will depend on whether lawmakers can complete their review and secure votes in both chambers of Congress before the deadline.

Congressional Review Faces Delays

Provisional Measure No. 1,394 took effect immediately following its publication in an extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette on September 25. It prohibits the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of betting platforms in Brazil.

The measure also established deadlines for operators to terminate their activities, revoking their provisional authorizations from October 25.

Although the legislation has immediate legal force, Brazilian law requires provisional measures to undergo subsequent examination by the Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate before they can become permanent legislation.

The review process begins with a joint committee containing representatives from both legislative chambers. Its members examine the proposal and prepare a report before the text proceeds to votes in the lower and upper houses.

However, the Joint Committee on PM 1,394 has yet to be formally convened. Lawmakers have designated 12 senators and 13 deputies as full members, alongside seven senators and seven deputies serving as alternates. The committee can eventually comprise 26 senators and 26 deputies.

The absence of an appointed chair and rapporteur has further delayed proceedings. The rapporteur must prepare the committee’s assessment before the proposal can advance to floor debates.

The measure received urgent procedural status on November 9, following approval of the urgency request. Under the applicable rules, this status places restrictions on the congressional voting agenda after a provisional measure has remained without a decision for 45 days.

The additional time granted by Alcolumbre will also have to accommodate the parliamentary calendar. Congress is scheduled to enter its recess on December 23, 2026, and return for the new legislative session on February 2, 2027. The suspension of the review period during the break accounts for the March 4 deadline.

Gilberto Guerzoni, a legislative consultant for the Senate, explained how the timetable works:

“In practice, a provisional measure, whichever one it is, including this one, has a 120-day deadline from the date of its issuance. But when Congress goes into recess, that deadline is suspended and only starts running again at the end of the recess, right? Congress will go into recess on December 22 and will only return in the new legislative session starting February 2.”

Nearly 100 Amendments Target the Scope of the Ban

Lawmakers have already submitted nearly 100 amendments to the government’s proposal, with several seeking to preserve parts of Brazil’s regulated betting market.

One of the main areas of agreement among legislators concerns the prohibition of online casino games. Multiple amendments propose banning the operation, offering, intermediation and marketing of online slots, even if sports betting remains permitted.

Other proposals take a different approach by seeking to retain certain online gaming activities under stricter technical requirements. These amendments would allow the vertical to continue operating if casino games and gaming aggregators obtain the necessary technical certification.

Advertising restrictions have also emerged as a significant issue during the legislative discussions. Several lawmakers support prohibiting marketing for online casino games while allowing promotional activity related to sports betting under defined conditions.

Additional amendments seek to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed gambling operators by expanding the blocking of illegal websites and tightening restrictions on their advertising.

Some proposals would introduce restrictions that already exist within Brazil’s regulatory framework. These include prohibiting beneficiaries of federal welfare programs from placing bets, a measure previously established by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA). Other amendments address the use of credit cards to fund betting accounts, which is also already prohibited.

The proposed changes indicate that lawmakers could pursue a narrower version of the government’s legislation if they decide against maintaining a complete prohibition. However, the final scope remains uncertain until the committee examines the amendments and produces its report.

The government’s position differs from that of the betting industry. Officials have defended the suspension on the grounds that existing controls were insufficient to guarantee public safety.

Industry representatives have countered that the prohibition could leave consumers with fewer protections by pushing activity towards unlicensed platforms. They also argue that the measure directly affects companies that previously obtained authorization to operate, while illegal websites remain an enforcement challenge.

Supreme Court Proceedings Add Another Dimension

The legislative debate is taking place alongside a constitutional challenge before Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Justice Luiz Fux is overseeing the case, which examines the legality of Lula’s decision to suspend online betting. During a hearing held in November, the court received submissions from the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling (IBRI) and the Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), two organisations representing interests within the betting sector.

Representatives from other commercial associations, health professionals and government bodies also presented their positions. The Ministry of Finance maintained its support for the prohibition.

Following the proceedings, Fux ordered the suspension of cases concerning online betting that were pending before lower courts. The STF has also blocked appeals and challenges against the ban in those courts while the constitutional question remains under consideration.

A separate political discussion is taking place within the Senate. Senator Veneziano Vital do Rêgo has requested a public hearing before the Economic Affairs Committee to examine the economic and social consequences of suspending sports betting and online gaming. No date has yet been established for the session.

The congressional timetable presents further complications for the measure. Negotiations over the 2027 Federal Budget are expected to consume substantial parliamentary attention, while lawmakers must also address other government priorities, including Big Tech regulation, the Desenrola debt relief program and a proposed Constitutional Amendment on Public Security.

Elections for the presidencies of the Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate will add another political consideration. Following the February return from recess, the new legislative session will take priority, with Carnival and the subsequent organization of standing committees expected to interrupt parliamentary activity. Whether Congress can reach a decision before March 4, 2027, will determine the next stage of the betting industry’s legal position in Brazil.