Flutter Brazil has maintained its concern for the provisional measure banning online betting following Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's successful re-election.
According to a statement from the company's spokesperson, Flutter Brazil "acknowledges the challenges associated with betting and the need for continuous improvement of player protection policies, oversight, and the fight against illegal offerings. Therefore, it receives with surprise and great concern a measure that could represent the prohibition or dismantling of an activity authorized and regulated by the Brazilian State itself."
Although President Lula's re-election does not settle the measure's long-term legal status, as Congress must officially approve it to make it permanent, the newly elected official has said during his campaign that he did not intend to restore betting.
Flutter Brazil believes that prohibiting betting won't cancel its demand but will only push more people towards illegal and unregulated operators. Contextually, Flutter spent $350m acquiring Betnacional in order to enter the Brazilian market.
"Brazil decided to regulate this market, establishing rules, authorizations, and oversight mechanisms. Based on this milestone, companies like Flutter Brazil invested in the country, paid licensing fees, generated jobs, and began paying taxes under State supervision.
"The demand for betting does not cease to exist with the removal of authorized operators. A ban tends to push consumers toward illegal platforms, where mechanisms such as user identification, deposit limits, transaction monitoring, self-exclusion, and anti-money laundering prevention are not guaranteed. Flutter's international experience in regulated markets reinforces that keeping this demand within an authorized environment is one of the most effective ways to combat illegality and protect the consumer."
The statement continues: "Regulation has, in fact, already begun to yield results in Brazil: the estimated share of the illegal market fell from 41%–51% in 2025 to 38%–44% in 2026. Even so, up to 44% of the online market remains illegal. A ban would put this progress at risk."
Beyond the threat of the black market, the operator also pointed to the economic consequences that a permanent ban would entail. "A study by LCA Consultores, also based on data from Instituto Locomotiva, estimates that a total ban could put BRL58bn ($11.65) to BRL73bn in tax revenue at risk between 2027 and 2030.
"The sector sustains approximately 15,000 direct and indirect jobs, while 15 betting companies among the largest advertisers invested roughly BRL3bn in media in 2025."
Furthermore, Flutter underlines how the measure will also affect other industries, such as football.
"The impact would also reach sports. In 2025, 18 of the 20 Serie A clubs had betting companies as master sponsors, representing over R$ 1.1 billion per season in these contracts. Furthermore, R$ 1.6 billion in fixed-odds betting funds was allocated to Brazilian sports, including Olympic and Paralympic sports."
Indeed, Flutter concluded its statement by reiterating the company's commitment to responsible gambling and its plans to seek a dialogue with Brazilian authorities.
"Given this scenario, Flutter Brazil advocates for the maintenance of the regulated market and believes that protecting society means strengthening oversight, responsible gaming, and the fight against illegality.
As part of Flutter Entertainment, a global group listed on the New York Stock Exchange operating in regulated markets worldwide, the company will continue to place its experience and global standards of governance, integrity, compliance, risk management, and responsible gaming at the disposal of dialogue with Brazilian authorities."
Despite the risks of banning online betting out right, a survey found that 75% of Brazilians were in favor of the ban. Moreover, a separate poll found that a majority of Brazil's micro and small businesses also supported the measure.
Reports last week indicated that Flutter has now officially pulled its Betfair brand from the Brazilian market following the provisional ban
