Brazil's Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), part of the Finance Ministry, said more than 47,000 illegal betting sites were taken down between September 25 and November 6.
The start date marks Provisional Measure (MP) 1,394/2026, which banned betting operations nationwide, citing gambling addiction and household debt. The figure averages more than 1,100 sites blocked a day.
Two days after the ban, 415 new unlicensed betting sites were identified in Brazil.
Licensed operators have promised to go to court, including to recover the licensing fees they paid. Regulation required BR30m from each company and 85 operators were authorized, with up to three brands each, raising BR2.55bn.
Industry groups ANJL and IBJR petitioned Justice Luiz Fux at the Supreme Federal Court (STF), arguing the ban is unconstitutional and will cause billions in losses and unemployment.
Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet asked the STF to suspend the lawsuits seeking to reactivate betting, which, eventually, was Fux’s final decision.
Before deciding to halt the betting lawsuits, Fux convened football clubs, industry associations and the Government for a public hearing last week, with defenders and opponents of betting operators present. Opening the session, he said he favors banning online betting.
"I have become convinced that ludopathy is a public health and economic problem and should be banned from the national sports scene," he said.
“This illegal gambling exposure is especially concerning because of its reach to vulnerable audiences, including minors, who may be drawn to platforms lacking identification mechanisms and responsible gaming tools,” added the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling (IBJR), on the matter.
The IBJR also urged the public to report advertising from illegal betting operators through the Government's portal, which routes complaints to the Finance Ministry
