TLDR
- Brazil’s licensed betting platforms went offline at 6 p.m. on October 6 under Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026.
- About R$1.33 billion remained in accounts linked to 26.5 million bettors.
- Banks will return the money from October 9 to 14, and bettors do not need to file a new request.
- The government is investigating 48 accounts that each hold more than R$500,000.
- Industry groups are challenging the ban in Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.
Brazil’s licensed fixed-odds betting platforms went offline at 6 p.m. on October 6. The shutdown followed the end of a voluntary withdrawal period set by Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026.
Bettors had until 11:59 p.m. on October 5 to withdraw their balances. About R$1.33 billion was still in accounts linked to 26.5 million taxpayer IDs, known as CPFs, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The government says this money will not be lost. Financial institutions that handled payments for the betting companies will return the funds to users.
Bettors Pulled Out R$775.6 Million
When the measure took effect, users held about R$2.1 billion on the platforms. By October 2, about R$652.6 million had been withdrawn.
By the October 5 deadline, total withdrawals reached about R$775.6 million. That left R$1.33 billion in user accounts.
Most of the remaining accounts held small amounts. More than 96% of accounts with a positive balance had R$25 or less, and more than 92% had less than R$10.
The money was concentrated at the top. About 1% of accounts held roughly 80% of the remaining funds, or about R$1.06 billion.
The government is also watching 48 accounts that each hold more than R$500,000. Finance Minister Dario Durigan said these accounts are under investigation for possibly suspicious transactions. He added that a large balance alone does not mean someone committed a crime.
Industry Pushes Back as Legal Fight Continues
The shutdown also requires betting ads and sponsorship materials to be removed. Operators must redirect their websites to the government page brasilsembets.gov.br.
Domains, subdomains, IP addresses and APIs owned by the operators will be made unavailable. Authorities are also working to block thousands of illegal gambling sites, apps and social media profiles.
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) objected to the redirect rule. The group said the provisional measure does not specifically require it.
The association also pointed out that companies paid R$30 million for five-year licenses and paid taxes under the regulated system. Brazil’s betting market had been regulated since January 2025.
Government data shows betting firms generated large tax revenues. Many football clubs had also come to rely on betting sponsorships.
The ban is being challenged in Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court. ANJL and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) filed cases, listed as ADIs 8024, 8027 and 8028, which are with Justice Luiz Fux.
Congress must also approve the provisional measure within the deadline set by the constitution for it to stay in effect.
Bettors who missed the deadline do not need to file a new request. Operators must send each user’s leftover balance and deposit details to the banks involved.
Banks will usually return the money to the same bank account the user deposited from. If that account is closed, the funds can go to another account in the same person’s name.
Bets without a result by the deadline will be canceled and the stakes returned. Refunds are scheduled from October 9 to 14, and Caixa Econômica Federal will take over the process from October 14 for banks that run into problems.
