Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has reported that all but one of the country’s 188 previously authorised betting websites had ceased operating following the government’s ban, with R$1.325bn still awaiting repayment to around 26.5 million bettors.
In a statement issued on October 6, the ministry said the shutdown of betting websites and applications followed the timetable established by Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, which prohibited the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting in Brazil.
“Among the 188 sites that operated with authorisation until Monday, the Federal Government identified only one that was still operating. Its blocking has already been requested, and enforcement authorities are monitoring compliance with the order,” the ministry said.
The deadline for customers to withdraw their balances voluntarily expired at 11:59pm on October 5. Under the timetable set out in the ministry’s latest statement, operators have until October 7 to provide financial institutions with each customer’s remaining balance, identified by their CPF taxpayer number, together with the bank account used to make deposits. Banks must return the funds between October 9 and 14. From October 14, amounts that could not be repaid will be transferred to Caixa Econômica Federal, which will handle their return.
According to a bulletin from the Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), around 26.5 million bettors still have money held on the platforms. The ministry said the large number of accounts containing very small balances could be one factor affecting the pace of withdrawals.
Some 86.2 million accounts hold between R$0.01 and R$0.99, collectively accounting for R$15.5m. Individuals may hold accounts with several platforms, explaining why the account total exceeds the number of bettors.
“Accounts with high balances will be investigated to establish possible money laundering and potential links to criminal organisations,” the ministry said. “Analysis of the origin and movement of funds forms part of the work to combat the financing of organised crime.”
Enforcement against illegal betting has continued alongside the closure of previously authorised platforms. Between September 25 and October 6, the ministry’s Ciberlab/Senasp and the SPA referred 13,241 illegal websites for blocking, equivalent to an average of approximately 1,103 a day.
Authorities also requested the removal of 3,552 social-media pages, profiles, channels, groups and servers. These comprised 1,974 Facebook pages, 560 Instagram profiles, 900 Telegram channels and groups, 103 TikTok profiles, 14 WhatsApp groups and one Discord server. The identified accounts and communities on Telegram, TikTok, WhatsApp and Discord collectively reached around 17.2 million users, members and followers, although the ministry cautioned that this figure could include the same person more than once.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Provisional Measure No. 1,394 on September 25, setting out the timetable for dismantling Brazil’s regulated betting market. The measure prohibited the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting, barred new deposits and required betting websites and applications to become inaccessible from October 6. Other lottery products authorised by law were unaffected.
The provisional measure took effect upon publication but requires congressional approval to become permanent. It is initially valid for 60 days and may be extended once for a further 60 days and without approval it will expire.