TLDR
- Brazil’s licensed fixed-odds 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 taxpayer IDs after the withdrawal deadline passed.
- Banks will refund the remaining balances automatically from October 9 to 14, with Caixa Econômica Federal stepping in from October 14.
- The government is investigating 48 accounts holding more than R$500,000 each for possibly suspicious transactions.
- Industry groups are challenging the ban at the Supreme Federal Court, and Congress must still approve the measure.
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. Many did not.
According to the Ministry of Finance, about R$1.33 billion remained in accounts linked to 26.5 million CPFs, Brazil’s individual taxpayer numbers. The government says these funds will not be lost.
When the measure took effect, users held about R$2.1 billion in total. Bettors withdrew about R$775.6 million before the deadline, including around R$652.6 million by October 2.
Most Accounts Held Small Amounts
Most remaining accounts held very little money. 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 left is concentrated at the top. About 1% of accounts hold roughly R$1.06 billion, or about 80% of the remaining funds.
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.
Durigan added that a large balance alone does not mean someone committed a crime.
How Refunds Will Work
Bettors who missed the deadline do not need to file a new request. Betting operators must send each user’s leftover balance and deposit details to the financial institutions involved.
Banks will then return the money, usually to an existing account in the same person’s name. If that account has been closed, the funds can go to another account belonging to the same person.
Refunds are scheduled from October 9 to 14. Starting October 14, Caixa Econômica Federal will handle refunds for banks that have trouble completing the process.
Any bets left unsettled at the deadline will be cancelled, and the money will be returned.
The shutdown also requires betting ads and sponsorship materials to be removed. Operators must redirect their sites to brasilsembets.gov.br, and their domains, subdomains, IP addresses and APIs will be taken offline.
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) objected to the redirect rule, saying it is not spelled out in the provisional measure. The group also noted 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. Betting firms generated tax revenue, and many football clubs relied on betting sponsorships.
Authorities are also increasing action against illegal platforms. The government is working to block thousands of gambling websites, apps and social media profiles.
The legal fight is now before Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court. ANJL and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) have challenged the ban in cases ADI 8024, 8027 and 8028, which are with Justice Luiz Fux.
Congress must also approve the provisional measure within the constitutional deadline for it to stay in effect. Refunds to bettors begin October 9 while the courts and lawmakers review the ban.
