Brazil Online Gambling Laws in 2026: What Changed for Casinos and Crypto

Brazil's Online Gambling Laws and the 2026 Betting Ban

The biggest change to online gambling laws in Brazil came on September 25, 2026.

What Existed Before the Ban

Brazil had previously created a federal fixed-odds betting regime through Law No. 13.756/2018 and Law No. 14.790/2023. The latter expanded regulation to qualifying online games and established detailed licensing and operating requirements.

From January 1, 2025, companies needed authorization from the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) to operate nationally. Authorized brands generally used .bet.br domains.

By August 2026, the Ministry of Finance said 85 companies had received federal authorization.

That framework explains how Brazil reached its current position, but it should not be read as permission for those operators to continue taking bets after MP 1.394.

What MP 1.394/2026 Changed

MP 1.394 prohibited:

• operating fixed-odds betting;
• offering it to customers;
• intermediating betting activity;
• advertising covered betting products.

The prohibition covers sports betting and qualifying online games in physical and virtual environments. It also applies when a foreign-headquartered operator offers those products to someone located in Brazil.

Shutdown and Customer Refund Timeline

The market did not close entirely on September 25. The government introduced a transition period.

• September 25: new deposits into betting transactional accounts stopped.
• Through October 5 at 23:59: customers could voluntarily withdraw available balances.
• From October 6: covered betting websites and apps must be unavailable.
• October 6–7: operators report remaining balances to financial institutions.
• October 9–14: financial institutions return outstanding customer funds.
• From October 14: Caixa Econômica Federal can help process refunds when normal repayment fails for operational reasons.

Advertising was also included in the prohibition, meaning operators cannot treat pre-ban promotional rules as continuing authorization for normal betting marketing.

Is the Betting Ban Permanent?

Not yet.

Brazilian provisional measures take immediate legal effect but must later be considered by Congress. Under Article 62 of the Constitution, an MP normally remains valid for 60 days and may generally be extended once for another 60 days if Congress has not completed consideration.

As of October 2026, MP 1.394 remains before Congress.

The accurate description is therefore that Brazil currently prohibits fixed-odds betting under a provisional measure already in force, not that the country has permanently abolished online betting.

Crypto Gambling Laws in Brazil

Brazil has no special "crypto casino" license, and cryptocurrency does not exempt gambling activity from Brazilian law.

That is the central point when assessing crypto gambling laws in Brazil.

Crypto Deposits Were Already Banned for Authorized Bets

Even before MP 1.394, authorized fixed-odds operators could not accept crypto deposits.

Article 3, §2 IV of Portaria Normativa SPA/MF No. 615/2024 prohibited financial contributions using virtual assets or other cryptoassets. Permitted electronic payment methods included specified transfers such as PIX, TED, debit cards, prepaid cards and qualifying book transfers involving accounts at institutions authorized by Banco Central.

So Bitcoin and stablecoin deposits were never an approved funding method within the former regulated federal betting system.

What About Bitcoin and Offshore Crypto Casinos?

MP 1.394 regulates the underlying betting activity rather than the technology used to process it.

A covered service does not escape the current prohibition merely because it uses:

• Bitcoin or USDT;
• blockchain settlement;
• smart contracts;
• a Web3 interface;
• an offshore corporate structure.

The measure expressly reaches covered betting offered by foreign operators to people located in Brazil.

For the same reason, a Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta or other overseas gambling license does not itself create Brazilian authorization. A foreign license governs the operator under its own licensing jurisdiction; Brazilian rules still determine whether the activity may be offered to people in Brazil.

Crypto Regulation Is Separate

Cryptoassets themselves are not prohibited in Brazil.

Banco Central Resolution No. 519/2025 establishes authorization requirements for virtual-asset service providers, while Resolution No. 520/2025 governs their constitution and operation. Both entered into force on February 2, 2026.

The key distinction is simple:

Regulating crypto businesses does not amount to authorizing crypto gambling.

Final Thoughts on Gambling Laws in Brazil

Gambling laws in Brazil changed materially in September 2026. Fixed-odds betting and covered online games are currently prohibited under MP 1.394, while traditional casino restrictions continue under separate legislation.

Crypto does not create an exception, and an offshore gambling license does not itself authorize an operator to serve Brazil.

Because MP 1.394 remains before Congress, its status should be checked again before publishing this article materially later than October 2026. Players dealing with a specific legal situation should seek advice from qualified Brazilian counsel.