The amendment window for Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, Lula’s ban on fixed-odds betting, closed at 23:59 Brasília time on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Twenty-four lawmakers (18 deputies and 6 senators) filed 97 amendments, according to BNLData. Five were withdrawn, which leaves 92 for the joint committee to consider. Thirty-eight of the 97 were filed on the last day.
The usual story here is that Congress is pushing back. I’m more interested in what the amendments actually say. Read together, they show Congress isn’t debating whether to change the ban, only how much. Even the strictest senator in the debate filed amendments written for the day betting comes back. “The majority of parliamentarians who spoke out want better regulation, not prohibition,” BNLData concluded.
Key Takeaways
- The numbers: 97 amendments from 24 lawmakers, with 92 still live after withdrawals.
- Five approaches: Reopen the regulated market, ban casino but keep sports betting, toughen the ban, settle license fees and club sponsorships, or decide where seized money goes.
- Casino vs. sports split: The largest group would ban online casino and slots but restore sports betting, which is Flávio Bolsonaro’s public position.
- Few full defenders: Few amendments support the measure as written. Most propose regulation instead.
- Timeline: The measure starts blocking Congress’s agenda on Nov. 9 and expires Nov. 23 unless extended, with a possible 60-day extension.
- Committee not yet formed: The joint committee was appointed Sept. 30 but still has no chair or rapporteur.
The Five Ways Congress Wants to Rewrite the Ban
| Approach | Key amendments | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Reopen the regulated market | Mauricio Neves (PP-SP) Nos. 61–64; Bebeto (PP-RJ) Nos. 43, 59; Átila Lira (PP-PI) No. 77; Capitão Alden (PL-BA) Nos. 51–53, 69 | Reinstate licenses, extend their terms by the shutdown period, and replace the ban with stricter rules |
| Ban casino, keep sports betting | Sen. Marcos Pontes (PL-SP) No. 15; Sen. Dr. Hiran (PP-RR) No. 38; Pedro Aihara (PP-MG) No. 14; Julio Lopes (PP-RJ) No. 16; Marcos Braz (PSDB-RJ) No. 10 | Ban slots (the “Tigrinho” games) and virtual casino, and restore sports betting licenses |
| Toughen the ban, but plan for reopening | Sen. Sargento Reginauro (PSDB-CE), 16 amendments; Julio Arcoverde (PP-PI) No. 29; Beto Preto (PSD-PR) Nos. 1, 3, 4 | Make the casino ban permanent in law, deny compensation, and set strict rules if betting returns |
| Licenses, clubs and merchandise | Capitão Alden No. 66; Marcos Braz No. 11; Lopes No. 17; Alden No. 50 | Refund license fees in proportion, adjusted by the Selic rate; keep sponsorships for up to 24 months; allow existing shirt stock to be sold |
| Where seized money goes | Nine amendments, including Bruno Ganem, Alessandro Vieira, Bibo Nunes | Redirect seized funds from public security to health, gambling-addiction treatment and pediatric oncology |
The Strongest Amendment: Reopen With Stricter Rules
The most complete amendment comes from Congressman Mauricio Neves. His Amendment 64 is a full substitute text that reinstates the cancelled licenses, extends them by the time operators were shut down, and replaces the ban with rules stricter than the 2023 betting law. It would limit advertising to brand-only, require operators to flag bettors whose spending doesn’t match their income, require registration of technology suppliers, and force removal of illegal ads within 48 hours.
His justification is the industry’s central argument: demand for betting “migrates to operators who do not comply with requirements for identification, protection of minors, and prevention of money laundering.”
Bebeto’s amendments go further, limiting the ban to illegal operators only. His justification estimates that about 44% of bets in Brazil were already placed on unlicensed platforms before the ban.
The Bolsonaro Position: Ban Casino, Keep Sports
The largest group of amendments separates casino from sports betting, and this is the most important political signal in the batch. It matches the stated position of Flávio Bolsonaro, who is leading the Oct. 25 run-off.
- Sen. Marcos Pontes, the former astronaut, would ban casino and virtual games and restore sports betting licenses.
- Sen. Dr. Hiran would allow bets only on “real sporting events,” limit sponsorship to brand logos on shirts, and ban AI-generated people, avatars and voices in broadcast ads.
- Aihara and Lopes would ban only slot games, arguing that cancelling existing licenses violates legal certainty and acquired rights.
- Marcos Braz would ban slots and bets on individual plays such as cards, corners and penalties, to protect match integrity, while keeping result and score markets.
Senator Romário filed an amendment allowing bets only on final scores and goal differences, then withdrew it on the deadline day.
Even the Hardliners Are Planning for a Return
Senator Sargento Reginauro filed 16 amendments, all on the last day. Amendment 86 would make the online casino ban permanent by law, so a future government couldn’t reverse it by administrative act.
The other 15 apply only “if Congress readmits” any type of betting. They would ban betting and deposits between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; ban live betting, individual-play markets and cash-out; require session limits and checks on bettors’ financial capacity; and bar sanctioned companies from new licenses for ten years.
When the strictest senator in the debate is writing rules for the market’s return, it suggests he expects it to return.
The Money Fight: License Fees and Sponsorships
| Issue | Pro-industry amendment | Hardline amendment |
|---|---|---|
| License fees (R$30M per five-year license) | Alden No. 66: proportional refund adjusted by Selic | Arcoverde No. 29: no refund, no compensation |
| Club sponsorships | Braz No. 11: logos stay through season end, up to 24 months | — |
| Existing merchandise | Lopes No. 17 / Alden No. 50: existing betting-branded shirts can be sold until stock runs out | — |
| Naming rights | Bebeto Nos. 45–46: allow advertising but no new stadium naming deals | — |
| Fines for operators | — | Beto Preto No. 1: higher daily fines for breaching wind-down rules |
Across 85 licensees, the refund question is worth about R$2.55 billion, and the AGU has already told the Supreme Court that nothing is owed.
The Brazil Betting Ban Timeline From Here
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 25 | Lula signs MP 1,394/2026 |
| Sept. 30 | Joint committee appointed (still no chair or rapporteur) |
| Oct. 8–9 | Stake wins an injunction, then loses it on appeal a day later |
| Oct. 13 | Amendment deadline: 97 filed |
| Oct. 25 | Presidential run-off; licenses expire |
| Nov. 9 | The measure starts blocking Congress’s agenda |
| Nov. 23 | The measure expires unless extended (extendable 60 days; recess pauses the clock) |
Alongside all this, Justice Luiz Fux is still holding the Supreme Court challenges and has signalled he won’t rule until after the run-off.
What I’m Watching
What I keep coming back to is how close the timing is. Licenses die on Oct. 25, the day Brazil votes. Congress can’t realistically move before then, and BNLData expects “little progress” until after the run-off. So whatever happens, the market will have been dark for at least a month before lawmakers act.
The most likely outcome is the Pontes/Bolsonaro compromise: sports betting returns under much tighter rules, and online casino stays banned. For operators, that would be a partial win and a major loss of revenue, since casino and slots were the highest-margin products in Brazil. For players, it means the casino demand doesn’t disappear but moves to unlicensed sites. Congress has put the 44% offshore estimate into the official record, and nobody has explained how a casino ban brings that number down.
FAQ: Brazil Betting Ban Amendments
How many amendments were filed to Brazil’s betting ban?
Ninety-seven, from 24 lawmakers (18 deputies and 6 senators). Five were withdrawn, leaving 92 for the joint committee.
Will Brazil bring back sports betting?
It’s possible. The largest group of amendments would restore sports betting while keeping online casino and slots banned, which matches Flávio Bolsonaro’s position. Nothing has been voted on yet.
When does Brazil’s Congress have to decide?
The measure starts blocking the congressional agenda on Nov. 9 and expires on Nov. 23 unless extended. A 60-day extension is possible, and recess pauses the clock.
Will operators get their R$30 million license fees back?
It’s undecided. Amendment 66 would refund them in proportion, adjusted for interest. Amendment 29 and the AGU say nothing is owed.
