Caroline de Toni proposes online betting ban in Brazil before the 2026 election

Brazil’s regulated online betting market has picked up a fresh political risk: Federal Deputy Caroline de Toni has presented a proposal that would end the country’s legal online betting framework. For PSPs and operators, the point is not the rhetoric but the mechanism — the bill would target licences, betting websites, and payment flows.

1. De Toni’s initiative is Bill No. 5,153/2026. It would seek to terminate federal betting licences within 180 days and introduce measures to restrict access to betting websites and financial transactions connected with the sector.
2. This is a legislative proposal, not an enacted ban. Its final effect would depend on the legislative process and any subsequent legal or regulatory action.
3. De Toni is a federal deputy representing Santa Catarina for the Liberal Party (PL). Her official congressional profile confirms that she is serving in the 2023 to 2027 legislative term and is affiliated with PL.
4. The proposal would be a sharp break from Brazil’s current model. Under the existing framework, fixed-odds betting is subject to federal authorisation and oversight, and companies operating nationally must receive prior approval from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Finance.
5. The regulatory framework covers both sports betting and online games under the country’s fixed-odds regime. Licensed operators use authorised domains ending in “.bet.br” and are subject to requirements covering consumer protection, responsible gambling, financial controls and compliance.

Brazil moved into a nationally regulated betting framework only at the beginning of 2025, after years of legislative development and regulatory preparation. That makes Bill No. 5,153/2026 more than a routine policy spat: it is a direct challenge to a market structure that has only just become operational.