Brazil’s Congress Extends Nationwide Online Gambling Ban Through March 2027

Brazil’s National Congress has extended the validity of Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 by 60 days, keeping the government’s nationwide suspension of online sports betting, iGaming, and gambling advertising in force potentially until March 4, 2027, factoring in the upcoming legislative recess. Signed by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre and published in the Official Gazette (Diário Oficial da União) on November 11, the extension prolongs the immediate market freeze initiated by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 25, which required licensed operators to halt betting activity and refund remaining player balances.

For the moratorium to become permanent law, it must clear a joint congressional committee of senators and deputies before advancing to floor votes in both houses otherwise, the measure expires automatically. Although committee members have been nominated, formal deliberations have yet to begin amid 94 active legislative amendments. Several lawmakers are pushing to reinstate regulated sports betting while keeping online casino games prohibited, alongside proposals to ban gambling sponsorships across sports clubs, stadiums, and competitions, backed by the new legislative and public health campaign Health Is Not a Gamble.

Meanwhile, the shutdown continues to trigger severe market disruption and legal battles. Industry associations have filed four constitutional challenges before the Supreme Federal Court (STF) questioning the executive branch's authority to impose a sweeping sector ban via provisional measure. At the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General, Justice Luiz Fux suspended all lower-court rulings overturning temporary injunctions that had briefly allowed select operators to resume activity pending a unified STF ruling. With over 3,500 industry employees laid off, thousands placed on collective leave, and research firm Blask projecting up to 21.6 million bettors migrating to offshore sites, Brazil’s regulated market remains in legal and commercial limbo.