Lula da Silva’s Re-election Creates Brazilian iGaming Uncertainty

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term as Brazil’s president, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro. This election outcome has introduced uncertainty for the local iGaming sector following a recent nationwide ban on fixed-odds betting and online gaming.

What Happened

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential election, securing 51.75% of the vote and a fourth term, according to GamblingNews. This victory over rival Flavio Bolsonaro has raised concerns within the gambling industry regarding the future of Brazil’s iGaming sector.

Brazil had legalized online gaming and betting less than two years prior, attracting significant interest from the global gaming sector due to the country’s large population and passion for sports. Multiple operators reportedly secured licenses and established operations in the market. However, in September of the current year, President Lula signed Provisional Measure 1,394, enacting an immediate nationwide ban on fixed-odds betting and online gaming, which impacted existing operators and investments, as reported by GamblingNews.

Key Details

• President Lula secured 51.75% of the vote in the recent election, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro, according to GamblingNews.
• Provisional Measure 1,394, signed by Lula, implemented an immediate nationwide ban on online gaming and fixed-odds betting, posing risks to operators’ investments, GamblingNews stated.
• Congress is mandated to vote on Provisional Measure 1,394 within 60 days, with a potential extension of an additional 60 days, to determine its ultimate fate, as per GamblingNews.

Why It Matters

The re-election of President Lula signals potential challenges for gaming operators, as he is expected to advocate for the continuation of Provisional Measure 1,394 in Congress, according to GamblingNews. This measure, if enacted into law, would close the online gaming market and reportedly does not include provisions for refunding the BRL 30 million license fees previously paid by operators. The situation has created an environment of uncertainty for companies that had invested in the Brazilian market.

What’s Next

Congress is required to vote on Provisional Measure 1,394 within 60 days, a period that can be extended by an additional 60 days, as reported by GamblingNews. Possible outcomes include maintaining the ban, overturning it, or potentially retaining the iGaming ban while restoring online betting. Even if the online gaming market were to be reinstated, the current situation is likely to result in prolonged uncertainty. Despite this, Kambi officials reportedly indicated to iGaming Business that Brazil would remain an attractive market, and Kambi would likely continue its operations if market conditions changed favorably.

Originally reported by GamblingNews·Published 26 Oct 2026, 15:18