Brazil Prepares Provisional Measure to Curb Online Betting
Brazil · Regulation
The Lula government is preparing a provisional measure to tighten rules on online betting. It targets casino-style games such as Jogo do Tigrinho.
Key Facts
- What happened:Brazil’s government is drafting a provisional measure to restrict online betting.
- How big:The measure could ban online casinos, including the popular Jogo do Tigrinho.
- The catch:The measure is a draft and has not been signed or published yet.
- Who it hits:Online betting operators, influencers, and football clubs that rely on sponsorships.
- What comes next:Congress must approve it within 60 days, extendable once, or the measure lapses.
Brazil’s government is preparing a provisional measure to restrict online betting. The measure targets casino-style games like Jogo do Tigrinho.
What Is a Provisional Measure?
A provisional measure, or Medida Provisória, is a rule the president can issue with immediate effect. It takes effect at once, but Congress must approve it within 60 days, extendable once by another 60, or it lapses.
The Lula government has decided to use this tool because it acts fast. Sources in the Planalto Palace told ac24horas that the content is not yet finalized.
Targeting Jogo do Tigrinho
Jogo do Tigrinho is a digital slot machine that works on phones and is available 24 hours a day. Folha de S.Paulo columnist Marcos Augusto Gonçalves called it one of the most aggressive faces of gambling becoming a daily habit.
The game draws complaints because it can be addictive and misleading.
In Roraima state, prosecutors charged nine influencers and a businessman over promoting unlicensed platforms. Those moved R$67.5 million (US$13.2 million) in two years.
The Draft Measure
The measure is still a draft and has not been signed. Brasil 247 reported that online casinos, including Tigrinho, are among the main targets.
Metrópoles said the initiative could range from new advertising restrictions to tougher measures against online casinos. A provisional measure is one format under consideration because it allows a faster response.
Regulated Market Size
Under Law 14.790 of December 2023, private operators can offer fixed-odds bets on real sports and online game events. This law also covers virtual casinos like roulette and digital slots.
Operators must get prior authorization from the Ministry of Finance’s Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA). They pay a concession fee of up to R$ 30 million (US$5.5 million) for a five-year period.
Sponsorship and Advertising at Stake
Football clubs and broadcasters earn significant money from betting sponsorships. A Senate committee approved a bill that would ban such sponsorships, with a 24-month adaptation period for existing contracts.
The bill also restricts betting ads on TV, radio, internet, and social media. It bans influencer ads and targeted advertising, and prohibits bonuses and free bets used to attract users.
Political Context
President Lula met with ministers and civil-society groups on September 1 to discuss the social impact of bets. He said he would convene another meeting that week to decide on measures.
At that meeting Lula called betting ‘an evil for society’. He said two-thirds of the decision was made, without saying whether he would ban it.
Senate Actions
The Senate’s Science and Technology Committee (CCT) approved a bill that sharply restricts betting advertising and sponsorship. The bill also proposes a risk classification of games, banning those deemed excessively risky, like online slots.
The committee also approved an urgency request, which sends the bill to the full Senate. That bill, PL 2.470/2026, would ban betting on credit cards and set a 24-month cooling-off period for regulators who join the industry.
What Comes Next
The government must finalize the provisional measure’s text and get Lula’s signature. Then Congress has a limited time to approve it, or it expires.
The measure is part of a broader effort to curb betting’s social harms. Earlier rules already blocked Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries from betting platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a provisional measure in Brazil?
A provisional measure is a rule the president issues with immediate effect. It must be approved by Congress within a set period to remain law.
What is Jogo do Tigrinho?
Jogo do Tigrinho is a digital slot machine game popular on phones. It is available 24 hours a day and has drawn complaints for being addictive and misleading.
Has the provisional measure been signed?
No, the measure is still a draft and has not been signed. Reports from ac24horas and Brasil 247 say the content is not yet finalized.
How would the measure affect football clubs?
The measure could ban betting sponsorships for football clubs. A Senate bill proposes a 24-month adaptation period for existing contracts.
Sources: ac24horas; Brasil 247; Metrópoles; Agência Brasil; Yogonet Brasil; Senado Federal; BNLData; Crítica; Folha de S.Paulo; G1 Roraima; O Globo; Migalhas; The Rio Times.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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