The leader of Brazil's Liberal Party in the Chamber of Deputies, Sóstenes Cavalcante, has introduced a bill that would prohibit all fixed-odds betting conducted online, including sports betting, casino games and fantasy sports.
The proposal seeks to amend Laws No. 14.790/2023 and 13.756/2018, which currently regulate the betting sector in Brazil.
If approved, the bill would ban "the exploration of fixed-odds betting through electronic channels, virtual gaming events, online games, virtual betting and fantasy sports throughout the national territory," as stated by the Deputy.
In practice, any form of internet-based betting would become illegal in national territory.
The proposal also includes advertising restrictions, requiring that any physical promotional material include an age-appropriate warning as per Brazil's Child and Adolescent Statute.
Additionally, state and district lotteries would also be limited to operations within their own territories, prohibiting cooperation between Brazilian states and foreign entities.
Cavalcante warned of "serious social, economic and psychological impacts caused by the spread of virtual betting."
He mentioned data from the National Confederation of Commerce, which estimated retail sector losses of BR109bn ($20.2bn) in 2024 due to gambling.
"Online gaming has attracted millions of Brazilians, but for many, it has become a serious problem. The impact is being felt by families, the job market and the economy. The state cannot condone something that makes the population sick," said Cavalcante.
This is not the only recent initiative related to betting from lawmakers in the country.
The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting is seeking to comply with new measures aimed at making operators less accessible to vulnerable populations, including procedures such as blocking social welfare beneficiaries from gambling.
Brazil's betting industry faces growing scrutiny, with Senator Sérgio Petecão recently proposing a temporary 27.5% tax on operators
