Brazil's Betting Licences End as Lula Wins Re-election
Brazil’s federal betting licences expired on 25 October 2026, the same day Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff. The ban in Provisional Measure 1.394 stays in force, the Supreme Court has not ruled on it, and Congress has not yet installed the committee that must examine it.
Quick Take
- Every federal betting authorisation under the 2023 law ended on 25 October under MP 1.394, which bans operating, brokering and advertising fixed-odds betting, including online casino.
- Lula won the runoff with 51.79% of valid votes to Flávio Bolsonaro’s 48.21%. Earlier counts gave 51.78% and 51.75%, the same result at a slightly earlier stage.
- Justice Luiz Fux, rapporteur of the Supreme Court cases, had not ruled by election day. Congress’s joint committee had not been installed as of 21–22 October.
- For players nothing changes today: there is no licensed betting in Brazil, and a return would need a vote in Congress or a court order, then a new licensing process.
What Happened on 25 October
Under MP 1.394, signed by President Lula on 25 September, deposits stopped that day, licensed sites went offline on 6 October and every federal authorisation ended on 25 October, the day of the runoff (iGaming Express; Next.io). State and district authorisations follow the same timetable according to iGaming Express. The licences issued in January 2025 cost R$30 million each, and the measure does not refund them (Next.io).
Lula won re-election with 51.79% of valid votes with every polling station counted (Rio Times). iGaming Express reports 51.78% and Next.io 51.75% at 99.75% counted, so the small differences come from the stage of the count. Our Brazil explainer has the full timeline.
What Is Still Open
The measure in Congress. A provisional measure lasts 60 days and can be extended once by another 60. This one’s first term ends on 23 November, and the parliamentary recess pauses the count. The joint committee of 12 senators and 13 deputies that must examine it had not been installed as of 21–22 October, and about 90 to 99 amendments were filed, depending on the source and on withdrawals (iGaming Express; Next.io).
The Supreme Court. Justice Fux is rapporteur for the cases against the measure and, per both trade reports, was expected to decide after the runoff. Options reported include keeping the ban, suspending all of it or suspending part of it, for example allowing sports betting only. That is a reported expectation, not a ruling.
Stake. A São Paulo court granted Stake a partial injunction on 8 October, but the TRF-3 appeals court vacated it, and Stake’s Brazilian site and app have been offline since 10 October (Casino.org). Read the full Stake story.
What It Means for Players
The election result does not reopen the market. Trade reports say Congress may be less willing than the government to close it completely, and that a sports-only return is one option discussed, but that is analysis and not a decision. Until Congress or the court acts and a new licensing process exists, any site that says it is “legal in Brazil” deserves suspicion, and balances at closed operators should only be recovered through the official refund channels.
📌 In our view: the next dates to watch are Fux’s decision, the installation of the joint committee and 23 November, when the first 60-day term ends. We will update our Brazil pages when one of them is confirmed by two sources.
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18+ only. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.FAQ
Did Brazil’s betting licences expire?
Yes. Every federal authorisation under the 2023 law expired on 25 October 2026 under MP 1.394, according to iGaming Express and Next.io.
Who won the Brazilian runoff?
Lula won with 51.79% of valid votes to 48.21% for Flávio Bolsonaro, according to the Rio Times count with every polling station counted.
Can I bet legally in Brazil now?
No licensed betting exists in Brazil at the moment. Any site claiming otherwise should be treated with suspicion.
What happens next?
Congress must vote on the measure; its first 60-day term ends on 23 November and can be extended once. The Supreme Court has yet to rule.
Sources
↗ iGaming Express — Lula wins re-election, licences expire ↗ Next.io — Brazil re-elects Lula ↗ Rio Times — Brazil election results 2026 ↗ Casino.org — Stake offline again18+ only. Gambling laws differ by country and change quickly — check the rules where you live. If gambling stops being fun, BeGambleAware and GamCare offer free, confidential support.