DEVELOPING STORY · WORLD
Brazil Bans Online Gambling, Sets Refund Deadline
CURRENT STATUS
Active · revision 3 · last updated September 29, 2026 at 1:31 AM
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LATEST MATERIAL CHANGE
What changed?
On September 25, Brazil’s government issued a provisional measure that prohibits the operation, offering, brokering, and advertising of online betting and gaming platforms. The ban takes effect on October 6, with platforms required to shut down and cease accepting new bets. Bettors may withdraw funds until 11:59 p. m. on October 5; balances not withdrawn will be refunded through banks between October 9 and 14, with Caixa Econômica Federal ready to assist if needed. The Ministry of Justice, Public Security, and Federal Police will receive additional resources to target illegal sites and freeze related bank accounts. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described online gambling as a “cancer” that harms families, citing a 2025 loss of USD 12 billion and significant mental‑health costs.
Why it matters
The ban addresses a $12 billion annual loss to households, high social costs, and widespread addiction, aiming to protect vulnerable citizens and curb illegal gambling operations.
TIMELINE
Previous updates
Revision 2 · Source update detected
Revision 1 · Initial ingestion
LINKED SOURCES
Agencia Brasil · Marcelo Brandão · EBC/Agencia Brasil source terms; facts used for an original brief with link and attribution; images excluded