Brazil bans sports betting and sets October advertising deadline

Brazil has banned fixed-odds sports betting under a provisional measure signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 25, with a deadline for removing sponsorship advertising and a timetable for closing betting platforms. Brazil's Justice Ministry confirmed the signing at a ceremony in São Paulo.

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The Health Ministry says companies have until October 5 to remove physical advertising and sponsorship material, including outdoor displays. Associated Press reported that Brazilian clubs had raised concerns after betting companies reportedly warned a ban would immediately end their sponsorships.

New deposits into betting accounts were prohibited from September 25. According to the timetable published by CNN Brasil, customers have until 11:59 p.m. on October 5 to withdraw money voluntarily. Betting websites and applications are scheduled to go offline from October 6, separating the deposit restriction from the later platform shutdown.

The same timetable provides a further process for money left behind. Operators must report remaining balances to financial institutions on October 7 and 8, identifying customers by their individual taxpayer numbers. Banks then have October 9 through 14 to return those funds. Caixa Econômica Federal is to handle returns from October 14 where obstacles prevent banks from completing them.

The Health Ministry's notice says the prohibition covers sports betting and online games offered in both physical and virtual settings. It also applies to state and Federal District concessions and authorisations. Other lottery categories already permitted by law are excluded, so the measure does not amount to a ban on every authorised lottery product.

The published provisional measure also restricts financial institutions and payment providers from processing transactions for fixed-odds betting. It makes exceptions for transactions needed to close operations and reimburse customers. The text ends operating authorisations on public-interest grounds and rules out compensation or repayment of the authorisation fees already collected from operators.

Alongside the immediate restrictions, CNN Brasil reported that Lula sent Congress a separate bill defining concepts and criminal offences involving fixed-odds betting. That legislative proposal is distinct from the provisional measure and its shutdown schedule; the reported announcement does not mean the proposed criminal provisions have already become law.