Brazil lawmakers file 54 amendments to online gambling ban as sports betting carve-out gains support

Brazilian lawmakers have already submitted 54 amendments to Provisional Measure (MP) 1,394/2026, the text that bans betting and online casino gambling in the country. For operators and PSPs, the important detail is that several deputies and senators are trying to remove sports betting from the ban, which would leave only online casino games prohibited.

1. Lawmakers have until October 13 to file more amendments to MP 1,394/2026. After that, the measure still needs approval from a joint commission of federal deputies and senators within 120 days of publication, and the proposed changes can still reshape the final text.
2. So far, the most industry-relevant proposals are the ones that would exclude sports betting from the ban. At least seven parliamentarians support this route, including federal deputies Marcos Braz (PSDB-RJ), Julio Lopes (PP-RJ), Pedro Aihara (PP-MG), Felipe Francischini (Vamos-PR) and Julio Arcoverde (PP-PI), plus senators Marcos Pontes (PL-SP) and Hiran Gonçalves (PP-RR).
3. That carve-out would line up with the approach President Lula da Silva was reportedly expected to announce, based on his previous comments calling for an online casino ban only. In other words: on paper the measure bans both verticals; in practice, one of them is already being fought over before the ink has dried.
4. Other amendments go in the opposite direction. Deputy Carlos Roberto Rodrigues, or Bebeto (PP-RJ), wants all gambling modalities that operated before MP 1,394/2026 to be restored, while also pushing for stricter advertising rules, including a ban on advertising and on the acquisition of naming rights for football stadiums.
5. Deputy Tabata Amaral (PSB-SP) is not seeking to legalize gambling, but proposes ensuring that people with gambling problems are referred to treatment through the Unique Health System (SUS). Separate proposals also call for part of the licensing fees paid to the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting to be refunded to operators.

There is no date yet for congressional debate of the measure. Separately, Stake has obtained a preliminary court ruling allowing it to keep operating until October 25, arguing that the MP itself sets that date as the deadline for licence cancellations.