Brazilian lawmaker proposes nationwide ban on sports betting and online gaming

A bill introduced in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies on Thursday aims to prohibit sports betting and online gaming throughout the country, reversing the regulations that allow the market to operate legally.

Representative Luiz Carlos Hauly, a federal congressman from the state of Paraná, presented Bill 3636/2025, which proposes to repeal provisions of Laws 13,756 and 14,790. These laws established the legal framework for fixed-odds betting and online gaming in Brazil.

If approved, the legislation would bar the exploration, operation, intermediation, or advertising of all forms of fixed-odds betting, electronic betting, gambling platforms, and similar digital activities, whether operated by domestic or foreign companies. It would apply to wagers linked to both real-world and virtual events where payouts are determined at the time the bet is placed.

The proposal includes strict penalties for violations, including fines of up to R$50 million (US$9 million), the suspension of internet domains and applications offering such services, and the revocation of licenses or authorizations that have already been issued.

In a statement justifying the measure, Hauly linked online betting and gaming to growing financial problems among young Brazilians. He argued that the spread of these platforms has created “a worrying debt crisis" and is "compromising family well-being.”

The congressman described the bill as “a necessary and urgent step to restore the State's commitment to human dignity and the future of Brazilian youth,” claiming that betting activities, particularly those popularized through social media and online games, are fostering dependence among younger generations.

The proposed ban comes less than two years after the country began to implement regulation of the sector, which launched on January 1 this year. According to recent figures from the Federal Revenue Service, online betting generated nearly R$4 billion in taxes for the government in the first half of 2025.

Bill 3636/2025 will now be reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Deputies, which will assign it to the relevant committees before it can advance to further debate and voting.