Brazil Congress Adds Dozens of Amendments to Betting Ban
Brazil.- 6 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Brazil’s Congress continues to accumulate proposed changes to Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, which banned the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting nationwide.
While the initial count stood at 38 amendments, the official congressional register now shows further proposals as lawmakers continue filing changes to the original text.
More Than 40 Amendments Registered
The Provisional Measure was published on 25 September and took immediate effect.
Since then, deputies and senators have submitted dozens of amendments covering multiple aspects of the ban.
The legislative register currently lists 42 amendments, with the total still able to increase because submissions remain open until 13 October.
Proposals to Preserve Sports Betting
One of the main lines of amendment seeks to distinguish betting on real sporting events from other forms of online gambling.
Some proposals would preserve wagering linked to genuine sports results while maintaining restrictions on certain online casino games and higher-risk products.
Greater Restrictions on Online Games
Several amendments specifically seek to continue banning slot-style games and other products based primarily on chance.
Some lawmakers therefore favour replacing the blanket prohibition with a regulatory distinction between sportsbook and online casino products.
Restrictions for Social Programme Beneficiaries
Proposals have also been submitted to prevent recipients of federal direct-income transfer programmes, including Bolsa Família, from betting.
The measure is intended to add an additional protection layer for financially vulnerable groups.
Responsible Gambling Measures
A number of amendments introduce player-protection requirements.
These include:
- Periodic session alerts.
- Mandatory breaks.
- Compulsory termination of prolonged sessions.
- Centralised responsible gambling information systems.
- New design and interface requirements for betting platforms.
Licensing Debate
The early termination of operator authorisations remains one of the most contentious issues.
Some amendments seek to alter compensation arrangements or provide proportional reimbursement for licence fees covering periods operators will no longer be allowed to use.
Other proposals maintain the original measure’s position that termination on public-interest grounds does not automatically create a right to compensation.
Advertising and Sponsorship
Advertising rules are another area under debate.
Some amendments propose allowing limited forms of sports sponsorship or longer transition periods for existing contracts.
Others preserve strict restrictions on betting promotion and advertising.
Health Funding
One proposal would direct revenue collected through taxes, fines and sanctions related to illegal betting activity towards Brazil’s Public Health System, SUS.
The funding would support prevention and treatment related to gambling disorder.
Regularisation Programme
Lawmakers have also proposed a special regime to regularise assets, virtual assets and funds connected with betting activity that were not properly declared.
The proposal would create a specific tax and foreign-exchange regularisation mechanism.
Congressional Process
Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 remains under consideration by a mixed congressional committee.
The deadline for amendments has been extended to 13 October.
Congressional consideration runs until 23 November, while the measure enters urgency status from 9 November.
Regulatory Context
The Provisional Measure banned fixed-odds betting nationwide and established a transition regime for operators and customers.
It also created enforcement mechanisms targeting illegal platforms and strengthened obligations for payment providers, digital platforms and other intermediaries.
Next Steps or Impact
The amendments do not alter current law by themselves.
They must first be incorporated into the text considered by the mixed committee and subsequently approved by Congress.
The growing number of proposals shows that the scope of the ban, the future of sports betting, licensing, advertising and player-protection requirements will remain central issues as lawmakers debate Provisional Measure 1,394/2026.
Editó: @fonta
