End of an Era in Betting
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva determined, this Friday (25/9), the immediate block on sports betting platforms through a provisional measure. The decision interrupts a sector that had been expanding since 2018.
Origin of the Authorization
Everything started in Michel Temer's government, when an initial proposal on lotteries and public security gained amendments in Congress. Deputies included the fixed-odds modality, allowing the bettor to know the possible return at the time of the bet.
Approved and transformed into Law No. 13.756, the norm opened the way for commercial exploitation, but required complementary rules that took time to arrive.
Advancement of Regulation
During Jair Bolsonaro's term, technical discussions occurred without conclusion. Already in 2023, Lula sanctioned Law No. 14.790, defining taxation, oversight and players' rights.
In 2024, the Ministry of Finance detailed operational requirements. From January 2025, only companies with authorization from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets and domain .bet.br operate legally.
Protections and Restrictions
The government imposed barriers on Bolsa Família and BPC beneficiaries, in addition to creating the self-exclusion system. Until August 2026, about 3 million people in social programs were prevented from betting and more than 1.2 million opted for voluntary blocking.
Impact of the New MP
The current provisional measure puts the market on pause, generating uncertainties about withdrawals and future legal actions by affected companies.