Brazil’s federal government blocks betting sites, bans gambling ads, and restricts payments starting October 6

A provisional measure signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is already in force in Brazil and gives the government new tools to block betting sites and apps, stop payment flows, and remove gambling advertising from the market. For PSPs, acquirers, banks, and platforms, the key point is simple: the compliance perimeter now includes both traffic and money movement.

1. The measure orders authorized betting companies to make their websites and apps unavailable from Monday, October 6. If platforms keep offering bets after that date, the Ministries of Finance and Justice can request blocks on the electronic addresses. Anatel will pass those orders to internet connection companies, and for domains ending in .br, the MP also assigns responsibilities to Comitê Gestor da Internet no Brasil.
2. Brazil’s Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas, under the Ministry of Finance, says it already has the structure to identify irregular platforms and speed up blocking requests. The enforcement scope covers both sites that were already operating without authorization and new addresses created to work around the restrictions.
3. The MP also targets payments. Banks, payment institutions, and participants in arrangements such as Pix are prohibited from processing transactions destined for betting. The only payments allowed are those needed to close operations and return bettors’ balances. The Banco Central is expected to set the rules for financial institutions and create an information-sharing system to reject transactions and return funds linked to illegal betting, but the MP does not set a deadline for that mechanism.
4. Advertising gets the same treatment. The ban covers ads, sponsorships, and any content promoting betting to the Brazilian public, including digital channels. Existing material must be removed within ten days of the MP’s publication, a deadline that runs out on Sunday, October 5. Consumer protection agencies can investigate violations and order ad suspensions.
5. Digital platforms now have their own obligations. The MP requires them to take measures to prevent betting-related content from circulating, even when it is posted by third parties. App stores must block the availability of prohibited services and remove them after notice. Non-compliance can lead to warnings, fines, and, for repeat violations, suspension of activities.

The thing is that this is not just a media ban dressed up as a gambling story. Once the government starts mixing site blocking, payment interdiction, and platform liability in one package, the practical question for operators and their providers becomes which part of the stack gets cut first: acquiring, payout rails, distribution, or the domain itself.