Brazil's betting ban draws 42 amendments in Congress as 25 October licence deadline nears

Brazil's provisional measure banning online betting, in force since 25 September 2026, had attracted 42 proposed amendments in Congress as of Friday, 2 October, according to NEXT.io. The window for amendments runs to 13 October, and existing licences are due to be formally revoked on 25 October.

A provisional measure takes effect when the president signs it but lapses unless Congress converts it into law. The Senate has 60 days to complete its vote, extendable by a further 60, and an urgency procedure may apply if voting is not finished by mid-November.

What the amendments ask for

Most of the amendments do not give operators extra time to wind down. They instead narrow the ban to particular products or categories of operator, or propose refunding licence fees. Among the specific proposals: Amendment 11 would let sports sponsorship deals run to the end of the season or for 24 months, Amendment 15 would delay new advertising rules by 90 days, Amendment 18 provides for licence fee refunds, and Amendment 21 would suspend pending sanction cases.

Why it matters beyond Brazil

For operators holding Brazilian licences the question is whether Congress softens the measure before 25 October or lets it stand. For bettors elsewhere, the lesson is that a regulated market can be unwound by executive action in a matter of weeks, which is worth weighing when an operator's footprint is concentrated in a single jurisdiction.