Brazil’s 85 betting licenses lapsed on Oct. 25, 2026, the day Lula won the presidential runoff with 51.79% of valid votes, according to the Superior Electoral Court. The ban Lula signed on Sept. 25 covers fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games, including services from operators abroad. It provides no refund or compensation for the licenses, which cost R$2.55 billion in total.
The ban could still be changed: Congress has until Nov. 23 to vote on the measure, subject to a possible 60-day extension, and Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux is expected to decide whether to keep or suspend it, Poder360 reported. An industry group said a preliminary survey found more than 3,500 workers had been dismissed since the measure was issued; its forecast of 5,600 dismissals within 90 days is not a measured total.
