Brazil’s controversial betting ban, introduced by President Lula, has already attracted 42 amendments since reaching Congress, according to the Congress website.
The Provisional Measure banning online betting in the country officially came into force on 25 September, marking a significant shift in the country’s gambling landscape.
The ban will eventually lapse if Congress does not convert it into formal law, making the amendment process a critical battleground for the industry.
The 42 proposed amendments represent the first real signal of how lawmakers intend to handle the legislation going forward.
Proposals range widely in scope and intent, with some seeking to narrow the ban exclusively to online slots and casino games rather than all forms of online betting.
Other amendments would allow fully licensed operators to continue running their businesses while the crackdown focuses solely on illegal and unlicensed sites.
A third category of amendments seeks to secure refunds of licence fees for operators who are forced out of the market before their licences naturally expire.
Notably, none of the amendments proposed so far would grant operators additional time to wind down their operations, which remains a key concern for the industry.
The window for submitting amendments has been extended to 13 October, ahead of the 25 October deadline when existing licences are set to be formally revoked.
Amendments Em. 14, 16, 20, targeting slots only, and Em. 28, targeting licensed-only operations, would remove the clause that revokes licences under Article 4 of the measure.
If successful, those amendments would allow licences to run through to their original 2029-2030 expiry dates for any products that remain legal under the revised law.
The outcome of the Congressional process remains highly uncertain, with lawmakers still divided on whether to soften, delay, or potentially tighten the ban further.
The Brazilian gambling industry is watching proceedings closely, as the result will determine the future of online betting in one of Latin America’s largest and most valuable markets.
