Flávio Bolsonaro Considers Restricting or Banning Online Betting
Brazil.- 20 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro is considering a major review of Brazil’s online betting regulations, with options ranging from tighter restrictions to a potential complete ban on the sector.
No final position has yet been adopted, with his campaign team currently assessing different regulatory scenarios before establishing a formal government proposal on betting.
Full Ban Has Not Yet Been Decided
Alfredo Gaspar, Flávio Bolsonaro’s vice-presidential candidate, said there is currently no definitive decision on a complete prohibition.
He explained that the campaign is examining different regulatory options and assessing the level of intervention it considers necessary to protect Brazilian households.
Possible measures range from a substantial overhaul of the current framework to a potential full ban on online betting.
Review of Existing Regulation
The clearest position emerging from the campaign so far is that the current regulatory structure should be revisited.
Gaspar argued that any future framework should place greater emphasis on the economic and social impact of gambling on Brazilian families.
He said part of the campaign team is specifically studying which measures should be introduced and how extensive any future reform should be.
R$62 Billion Figure Under Debate
Gaspar claimed that betting has removed approximately R$62 billion from Brazilian household budgets, affecting money that could otherwise be spent on food, medicines and other essential expenses.
The figure was presented by the vice-presidential candidate during his remarks, but no methodology for calculating it was detailed in that context.
It should therefore be treated as a figure attributed to Gaspar within the political debate rather than as an independently verified estimate.
Gaspar Supports a Tougher Approach
While Flávio Bolsonaro has not committed to a full ban, Gaspar personally expressed support for significantly stronger measures.
The vice-presidential candidate argued that the sector requires a broad intervention and said action against individual operators would not be sufficient to address the problems he associates with betting.
His preferred options include either sharply restricting the current market or potentially prohibiting it altogether.
Federal Regulatory Debate
Fixed-odds sports betting was legalised in Brazil in 2018.
Congress subsequently approved a broader regulatory framework in 2023, establishing rules for the sector and bringing online gaming into the regulated system.
Since January 2025, only companies authorised by the Ministry of Finance have been permitted to operate nationally.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign is now considering whether that framework should be substantially changed.
Criticism of the Federal Government
Speaking at an event organised by the União Nacional de Entidades do Comércio e Serviços (Unecs), Gaspar blamed the current Federal Government for the expansion of betting.
He linked the market’s growth to household financial pressure and mental-health concerns while criticising the regulatory model implemented in recent years.
The comments form part of the campaign’s political positioning as betting becomes an increasingly prominent issue in Brazil’s electoral debate.
Next Steps or Impact
Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign has not yet presented a formal proposal to ban betting or specified exactly which restrictions it would introduce.
The team will continue assessing alternatives before establishing a definitive position within its government programme.
The debate nevertheless confirms that gambling regulation is emerging as a significant electoral issue in Brazil, with policy options ranging from amendments to the current framework to the potential prohibition of the online market.
Editó: @fonta
