Brazil Bans Online Betting: What MP 1.394 Means for Players

What the Measure Does

MP 1.394/2026 was published in an extra edition of the Diário Oficial and took effect the same day. It prohibits operating, offering, intermediating and advertising fixed-odds betting in Brazil, online or physical. That covers sports betting and online casino-style games. Lottery products authorised by other laws are not affected.

The measure is not limited to companies based in Brazil. According to the published text, it also reaches operators based abroad that offer bets to people in Brazil. That point matters for anyone who assumed offshore platforms sit outside the decision.

The Timeline Players Were Given

Bets settled before the switch-off must be paid. Open bets are void and stakes are refunded in full. Operators that miss the refund steps face a daily penalty of R$200,000.

Operators Lose Licences They Paid For

Around 85 to 87 operators held federal authorisations, each paid for with a R$30 million fee. The measure states that the fee will not be refunded and no compensation is due. Trade bodies have already gone to court. The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) called the measure “aimed solely at perceived electoral gain”, while the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) warned of “significant economic and legal consequences”.

Advertising, marketing and sponsorship are banned in every medium, and internet providers carry a duty of care over betting promotion, including third-party content. A separate bill sent to Congress proposes prison terms of four to six years for operating and two to four years for promotion and payment facilitation. That bill is not yet law.

The Stake Injunction

On 9 October the 9th Federal Civil Court of São Paulo granted Stake a partial injunction. The judge reasoned that if authorisations were already void, the measure would not need to set a later end date. Stake’s site was ordered unblocked until 25 October, under 12 conditions: no new promotional campaigns or user acquisition, full withdrawal rights for players, protection of excluded bettors and preserved records. Its request to keep operating until its licence would have expired in December 2029 still awaits a ruling on the merits.

What Happens Next

A provisional measure lasts 60 days, extendable once by another 60, and lapses unless Congress converts it into law. The licences, however, end on day thirty, before any vote is due. The Attorney General’s Office has asked the Supreme Federal Court to uphold the ban, and Brazil’s presidential election has turned the question into a campaign issue.

The Crypto Angle

The ban lands weeks before Brazil’s own crypto deadline. Under Central Bank Resolutions 519–521, banks may not serve unauthorised virtual asset providers from 30 October 2026. Players who held funds at any platform should check the authorised provider list before moving money. Our USDT TRC20 explainer covers how stablecoin transfers work in general.

FAQ

18+ 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.