Brazil's betting ban backfired within days. After President Lula signed provisional measure MP 1394 banning sports betting and online casino, new illegal betting sites surged: according to Bet Legal monitoring, 428 illegal betting domains appeared between 25 and 27 September 2026, about 143 a day.
What MP 1394 bans
The measure was published on 25 September 2026. It bans the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting (apostas de quota fixa), covering both sports betting and online casino, including slots such as "jogo do tigrinho". Other authorized lottery products are not affected.
It reverses the market Brazil legalized with Law 14,790 in late 2023 and opened to licensed operators in 2025. Congress has 120 days to vote on the MP, and the government has also sent a bill creating five betting-related crimes with 2 to 6 years in prison.
Timeline: when Brazilian sportsbooks go offline
- 25 September — MP published, new deposits banned.
- Until 23:59 on 5 October — players can withdraw funds.
- 6 October — operators' sites and apps go offline.
- 7–8 October — operators send remaining balances to banks.
- 9–14 October — banks refund players, with Caixa Econômica Federal stepping in if needed.
- 10 days to remove advertising, 30 days until federal licenses end.
Illegal sites: the monitoring data
- Bet Legal: in June–August 2026 an average of 13.7 illegal domains appeared per day. On 21–24 September, amid rumours of the ban, it was 62 a day (246 sites). After the MP, on 25–27 September, 143 a day (428 sites). In total, 674 new illegal platforms in one week.
- ANJL and Iron Security: the operators' association ANJL and Iron Security counted 103 suspicious sites on 21 September and 633 by 27 September, 697 in total, while the number of authorized sites stayed at about 250 (each licensee was allowed up to three domains).
Illegal operators copy the design, colours and names of licensed brands, but skip everything Brazilian rules required: biometric identity and age checks, the ban on credit-card deposits and the block on welfare recipients.
Who enforces the ban
The market is supervised by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) of the Finance Ministry. According to BNLData, only 4 staff (up from two) monitor around 200 authorized sites and thousands of illegal ones, with a 2026 monitoring budget of R$1 million, of which about R$275,600 has been spent.
Domain blocking, app removal and payment restrictions are handled by telecoms regulator Anatel based on SPA lists. After the MP, the Justice and Finance ministries took down 506 domains through their Ciberlab unit. The same report found:
- 43 Telegram channels and groups promoting illegal betting, with 212,634 members; the largest (42,791 members) shares casino "signals", the second (28,601) is dedicated to Fortune Tiger;
- about 1,960 Google ads across 7 domains on 25–27 September alone;
- 7 Meta ads, two of them launched on 25 September, after the MP.
What the budget, operators and football lose
- Licenses: 85 authorized operators paid R$30 million each, R$2.55 billion in total. The MP offers no refund, and pending applications are void.
- Taxes: estimated losses of R$10.8 billion a year. In January–August 2026 the sector paid R$9.9 billion in federal taxes.
- Market size: regulated GGR was R$36.9 billion in 2025 and R$20.07 billion in H1 2026.
- Football: betting brands put about R$1.03 billion of sponsorship into Série A clubs in 2025; Betano's deal with Flamengo alone is worth R$268.5 million a year.
Even before the ban, the illegal share of Brazil's betting market was estimated at 38–44%, and an LCA Consultores survey of 2,291 bettors found that 77% had already used illegal platforms. Operators and ANJL say the ban hurts the companies that paid taxes and followed the rules.
What it means for affiliate marketers
- Licensed Brazilian offers stop accepting players on 6 October. Pause traffic in advance, or it will simply be wasted.
- RevShare on Brazilian players of licensed brands ends with their operations. Ask your affiliate program how September–October earnings and payouts will be settled.
- All betting advertising in Brazil is now banned. Authorities already track Google and Meta ads and Telegram channels, and the new bill may make illegal betting a crime. The risk for teams still running Brazil has grown sharply.
- The situation may change. Congress has 120 days to decide and operators are preparing lawsuits. Follow the news and shift budgets to other LatAm and global GEOs rather than depending on one market.
Find a gambling affiliate program for other GEOs in the DERVALO affiliate program catalog, and read what RevShare is in affiliate marketing.
FAQ
What is MP 1394?
A provisional measure (Medida Provisória) of Brazil's president dated 25 September 2026 that bans fixed-odds betting, online casino and their advertising.
When will betting sites in Brazil stop working?
Licensed operators' sites and apps go offline on 6 October 2026. Players can withdraw until 23:59 on 5 October, and balances are refunded through banks on 9–14 October.
How many illegal sites appeared after the ban?
Bet Legal counted 428 new illegal sites on 25–27 September and 674 in one week; ANJL and Iron Security counted 697 suspicious sites by 27 September.
Is the ban final?
The measure applies immediately, but Congress must vote on it within 120 days. That process and operators' lawsuits will decide whether the market returns.
Sources: Agência Gov, BNLData (Bet Legal data), ANJL / Iron Security, iGaming Business Brasil, Next.io.
