Brazil Betting Ban Stalls in Congress With 94 Amendments Pending

Brazil faces a committee bottleneck over its fixed-odds betting ban as the government seeks congressional approval by December 20. Provisional Measure 1.394/2026 still awaits formal committee installation, leaving 94 amendments without consideration.

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Good to know

• Committee members have nominations, but no president or rapporteur has taken office.
• A November 3 Supreme Federal Court hearing will bring together government officials, gambling companies and football clubs.
• The measure enters an expedited procedure on November 9, ahead of the initial November 23 deadline.

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The congressional delay does not suspend the prohibition. Supreme Federal Court Justice Luiz Fux has upheld its validity while arranging the hearing to examine the dispute.

Meanwhile, Congress must weigh the financial consequences alongside the 2027 budget. Ending regulated fixed-odds betting would remove federal revenue from operators and funding allocations under Law 14.790/2023 for sports, tourism and the National Public Security Fund.

Mandatory spending already accounts for 91.7% of federal expenditure, leaving 8.3% for investment and public services. Lawmakers must also adjust the budget, submitted on August 31, to accommodate campaign commitments.

Lawmakers Seek Alternatives to a Blanket Betting Ban

Several amendments would preserve parts of the betting market rather than maintain the full prohibition.

Senator Dr. Hiran (PP-RR) proposes allowing wagers on actual sporting events while excluding “tigrinho” and other games of chance.

Representative Julio Arcoverde (PP-PI) takes a different approach. He wants the prohibition to cover unauthorized operators only, without concession fee refunds or compensation.

Lawmakers submitted 99 amendments before withdrawing five. Senator Sergeant Reginauro (PSDB-CE) and Representative Captain Alden (PL-BA) filed 17 each.

However, none can advance through committee consideration until lawmakers establish its leadership. The official congressional record continues to list the measure as awaiting committee installation.

December Target Comes Before the Final Legislative Deadline

Institutional Relations Minister José Guimarães (PT) said on October 27 that the administration wants three priorities approved before December 20: the betting measure, the Public Security Constitutional Amendment and the Zero Fare Constitutional Amendment for public transportation.

“If we vote on these three major agendas, we will already be satisfied,” he said.

The government target falls well before the projected expiry of the provisional measure.

From November 9, the proposal enters an expedited procedure and begins blocking the agenda of the chamber considering it. Its initial 60-day period ends on November 23, followed by an automatic extension.

The legislative clock stops during the December 23–February 1 recess. Accounting for that pause, BNLData calculates that the measure will expire on March 4, 2027, unless Congress approves it.

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