Brazilian betting ban faces 42 amendments as Congress deadline extends

Amendment Window Extended to 13 October

The Provisional Measure (MP) banning online betting in Brazil, which has been in force since 25 September, is currently the subject of 42 proposed amendments in Congress. The window for lawmakers to submit these changes has been extended to 13 October. Existing licences are scheduled to be formally revoked on 25 October.

As of 2 October, the proposed amendments to the betting ban fall into three main categories. One category suggests narrowing the scope of the prohibition to cover only online slots or casino games. Another category would allow licensed operators to continue operating while targeting only illegal sites. A third category proposes refunding licence fees to operators who are forced to cease operations early.

According to Congress’ website, none of the 42 proposed amendments grants operators additional time to wind down their operations. The measure is currently in its first stage of the legislative process, having been received by the first Joint Committee. Deputies and senators retain the ability to propose further amendments during this Joint Committee stage.

Legislative Path and Urgency Procedure

The procedural path for the Provisional Measure requires that, after the Joint Committee’s report is approved, deputies vote on the first text in the Chamber of Deputies. If the measure passes the Chamber of Deputies, the report then moves to the Senate. Senate voting must be completed within 60 days, a period that is extendable by an additional 60 days.

An urgency procedure may be triggered in the Senate if both houses of Congress have not finished voting within 45 days of the MP’s publication. This 45-day deadline is set for mid-November. If no vote is recorded by early November, the MP is placed under urgency status, which blocks the agenda of the house considering it.

The Provisional Measure will lapse unless Congress converts it into law. A cross-party group of lawmakers has specifically put forward a proposal for a slots-only ban. This approach would keep sports betting and other games regulated under the existing 2023 framework.

Operator and Trade Group Actions

Trade groups representing the industry are pressing the Supreme Court to suspend the measure. Licensed operators are navigating a period of regulatory uncertainty as the legislative process unfolds. The specific content of the 42 amendments indicates a division among lawmakers regarding the extent to which the ban should apply to different types of gambling products.

The current status of the amendments, as indicated by the three main categories, suggests that some legislators seek to preserve parts of the current market structure while addressing illegal operations. The formal revocation of existing licences on 25 October remains a fixed date in the timeline, regardless of the outcome of the amendment process in the Joint Committee.