ANJL Estimates 3,500 Job Losses Following Brazil Betting Ban
Brazil.- 9 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Brazil’s fixed-odds betting ban has already resulted in an estimated 3,500 job losses, according to preliminary findings from a survey conducted by the National Association of Games and Lotteries, ANJL.
The association also estimates that redundancies could reach approximately 5,600 workers within the next 90 days if the regulatory situation does not change.
Figures Are Preliminary
The numbers come from an ANJL industry survey and do not represent official or final government employment data.
The questionnaire was distributed to betting operators and suppliers to measure the direct and indirect labour impact of Provisional Measure 1.394/2026.
23% of Workforce Already Dismissed
Preliminary responses indicate that:
- 23% of the workforce has been dismissed.
- 28% has been placed on collective leave.
- Redundancies could reach 37% of the workforce within 90 days.
The regulated industry employed approximately 15,000 people directly.
Around 3,500 Jobs Lost
Applying those percentages to the wider market, ANJL estimates approximately 3,500 workers have already been dismissed.
The survey classifies redundancies occurring from 25 September, when the Provisional Measure was announced, as related to the ban.
More Than 4,100 on Collective Leave
A further estimated 4,167 employees have been placed on collective leave.
For several companies, this is functioning as a temporary measure while they await decisions from the Federal Supreme Court and Congress.
More Than Half the Workforce Affected
Combining redundancies and collective leave, around 51% of the industry’s workforce, or more than 7,600 people, has already been directly affected.
ANJL warns that some employees currently on leave could later be dismissed if the situation remains unchanged.
5,600 Redundancies Projected
The association estimates that redundancies could reach 37% of the total workforce within three months.
That would equal around 5,600 lost jobs, approximately 2,100 more than the current estimate.
The figure remains an industry projection rather than a confirmed outcome.
Operators and Suppliers Included
ANJL distributed the questionnaire to both betting operators and service providers.
Affected parts of the supply chain include:
- Technology.
- Payments.
- Customer support.
- Compliance.
- Marketing.
- Agencies.
- Affiliates.
- Specialist media and services.
36 Companies Already Cutting Staff
A separate industry survey published this week identified at least 36 authorised betting brands that had already begun redundancies or frozen vacancies.
The initial cuts were concentrated among small and medium-sized businesses but have begun spreading through the supplier ecosystem.
Regulated Market Had Built Local Operations
Brazil’s betting industry significantly increased local hiring over the previous two years as federal regulation developed.
The framework required local presence and larger teams across compliance, customer service, technology, marketing and responsible gambling.
The prohibition has abruptly changed those operating requirements.
Supreme Court and Congress Key
Companies remain focused on the legal challenges before the Federal Supreme Court.
The main cases questioning the Provisional Measure are being handled by Justice Luiz Fux.
Congress must also consider the measure if its effects are to remain in force beyond the constitutional validity period.
Numbers May Still Change
ANJL has stressed that the percentages could change when all survey responses are consolidated.
Indirect job losses could also increase as further data arrives from suppliers and commercial partners dependent on the regulated industry.
Next Steps or Impact
The final survey will provide a clearer assessment of the employment impact of the prohibition.
For now, ANJL estimates around 3,500 redundancies and warns that the figure could reach 5,600 within 90 days.
The outlook will depend heavily on decisions from the Supreme Court and Congress as operators and suppliers adjust to a regulated market that remains suspended.
Editó: @fonta
