Brazil has expanded its blocking of iGaming websites following a ban on sports betting and online casinos. The restrictions apply not only to formerly licensed .bet.br domains but also to international addresses, including .com, through which operators may continue serving Brazilian users. According to the Ministry of Justice, authorities identified 20,318 digital resources linked to the illegal offering or advertising of betting services.
For iGaming operators and affiliate teams, this means losing access to one of Latin America’s major markets. The restrictions affect not only casino websites but also advertising campaigns, apps, social media and payment infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- On September 25, 2026, Brazil banned fixed-odds betting, including sports betting and online casinos.
- From October 6, previously licensed platforms were required to cease operations and become inaccessible to users.
- Authorities identified 20,318 digital resources: 16,627 websites and 3,691 pages, profiles or communities on digital platforms.
- A separate interagency task force reported blocking 506 websites showing signs of illegal betting activity.
- Google monitoring identified approximately 1,960 ads linked to seven domains.
- The ban also covers operators based outside Brazil if they offer betting services to users within the country.
Why Brazil Shut Down the Online Betting Market
On September 25, 2026, the Brazilian government adopted a temporary legislative measure, Medida Provisória No. 1.394/2026. It prohibited the organization, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting within the country.
The ban covers sports betting and online casinos, including platforms operated by foreign companies serving users in Brazil. Other legally permitted types of lotteries are not covered by this ban.
Before these changes, the country operated under a licensing model. From January 1, 2025, operators with federal authorization used .bet.br domains. After MP No. 1.394/2026 was adopted, even these companies lost the right to accept new bets.
Customers were allowed to withdraw their remaining balances themselves until 11:59 p.m. on October 5. From October 6, websites and apps were required to stop operating.
Blocking Extends Beyond .bet.br
The first stage of the shutdown targeted platforms that had previously operated under Brazilian licenses. Some of their domains were configured to redirect to the government portal Brasil Sem Bets, where users can find information about the ban and refunds.
However, using an international .com domain does not exempt an operator from Brazilian restrictions. If a website continues offering prohibited betting services to users in the country, it may be blocked.
On October 16, CNN Brasil reported that some operators were still operating through international domains. This explains why authorities are examining addresses beyond the national domain zone.
At the same time, it would be inaccurate to claim that all .com websites have automatically been blocked. The restrictions apply to resources that offer or promote prohibited betting services in the Brazilian market.
20,318 Resources: What Authorities Actually Identified
According to an October 9 report by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security, interagency monitoring identified 20,318 digital resources linked to the illegal offering or advertising of betting services.
- 16 627 — betting websites;
- 1 974 — Facebook pages;
- 560 — Instagram profiles;
- 1 027 — Telegram groups;
- 115 — TikTok profiles;
- 14 — WhatsApp groups;
- 1 — Discord server.
All of these resources were identified for potential blocking or removal measures. This does not mean that every one of them is already inaccessible.
Separately, the Ministry of Justice reported that an interagency task force had taken action to shut down 506 websites showing signs of illegal betting operations.
Google Ads and Meta Are Also Under Scrutiny
Domain blocking is only one part of the campaign. Brazilian authorities are also reviewing advertisements that continued to attract users to betting after the ban took effect.
Based on monitoring conducted on September 25–27, Ciberlab identified approximately 1,960 Google ads linked to seven domains. The ads promoted deposits, online games and registration on betting platforms.
An important clarification: these findings do not prove that all 1,960 ads were launched after the ban took effect. Google’s transparency tool showed the date an ad was last displayed but did not always make it possible to establish when the campaign began.
On Meta, researchers separately documented seven advertisements. Two of them began running on September 25, when the ban was already in effect. The materials identified included offers for bonuses, registration and casino games.
The government also highlighted the use of advertising page names that did not match the brand or destination domain. Such cases may make it harder to identify the actual advertiser.
What Changes for Affiliate Teams
The ban covers not only casino and sportsbook operators but also betting intermediation and advertising. As a result, affiliate teams that worked with the Brazilian GEO also face legal and operational risks.
The most immediate consequences are inaccessible landing pages, the suspension of deposit acceptance, blocked advertising materials and potential difficulties settling payments for players referred earlier.
Moving from .bet.br to .com or another domain does not make a betting offer legal. Brazilian rules apply to the activity itself, not just the domain extension.
For teams that operated in Brazil, the immediate priorities should be pausing campaigns promoting prohibited products, checking unpaid affiliate commissions and documenting operators’ financial obligations.
It is also worth reviewing agreements with advertisers: do they address the consequences of a regulatory ban, the final reconciliation process and payment deadlines after an offer is discontinued?
What Happens to Players’ Money
The Brazilian government introduced a separate mechanism for returning remaining balances to users of previously licensed platforms.
After the voluntary withdrawal period ended on October 5, operators were required to provide banks with information about customers’ remaining balances. Financial institutions were expected to process refunds from October 9 to 14.
According to the Ministry of Justice’s October 9 announcement, approximately BRL 1.24 billion still had to be returned to 26.3 million users at that point. These figures reflect the reporting date, not a verified outstanding balance at the end of October.
Where refunds through banks are not possible, Caixa Econômica Federal becomes involved in the process. Instructions for users are published on the government portal Brasil Sem Bets.
Is Brazil’s Betting Ban Permanent?
MP No. 1.394/2026 has been in effect since September 25, but it is a temporary legislative measure that requires parliamentary consideration.
Industry associations are challenging certain provisions and the market shutdown procedure. In particular, Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) opposed the mandatory redirection of all traffic to the government portal, citing risks to user support and refunds.
It is therefore too early to describe the regulatory framework as final and irreversible. However, as of October 28, 2026, the ban remains in effect and the authorities continue blocking websites and advertisements.
Conclusion
Brazil has moved from licensing online betting to banning it and imposing sweeping restrictions on the digital infrastructure supporting it. Enforcement covers domains, apps, advertising, social media and financial transactions.
For the iGaming industry, the key message is that an international domain or a foreign legal entity does not protect an operator from local restrictions if its product continues serving a prohibited GEO.
Sources for Verification
Sources for Verification
Brazilian Ministry of Finance. Official explanation of MP No. 1.394/2026, the categories of prohibited betting and the timetable for platform shutdowns.
New Betting Rules in Brazil
Brazilian Ministry of Justice, October 9, 2026. Data on 20,318 identified digital resources, including 16,627 websites and social media profiles.
Report on the Scale of Blocking
Brazilian Ministry of Justice. Announcement concerning 506 disabled websites, 1,960 Google ads and Meta advertising materials.
Results of the Interagency Investigation
Brasil Sem Bets. Government portal with a notice about the blocking measures and instructions on refunding remaining account balances.
Official Instructions for Users
Agência Brasil. Explanation of the platform shutdown timetable, the involvement of service providers and the parliamentary status of the temporary ban.
How the Betting Market Is Being Shut Down
CNN Brasil, October 16, 2026. Report on some platforms continuing to operate through international domains.
Use of International Domains After the Ban
iGBRASIL. Industry position on redirecting traffic to Brasil Sem Bets and legal challenges.
Operators’ Association Position
