Brazil’s gambling ban could exclude online poker sites
Brazil’s extraordinary decision to ban its newly regulated online betting industry does not appear to extend to online poker, potentially allowing millions of poker players to continue playing after sportsbooks and online casinos are forced offline.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 on September 25, prohibiting the operation, offer, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting throughout Brazil.
The measure expressly covers wagers on real sporting events and virtual online gaming events, bringing both regulated sports betting and online casino games within the prohibition.
Online poker, however, sits outside that regulatory framework.
Brazil has historically treated poker differently from conventional games of chance because the game involves competition between players and has been recognised as predominantly skill based.
The regulations developed for Brazil’s fixed-odds betting market also excluded skill-based games from the online-gaming products covered by that regime.
That distinction now matters enormously.
The government’s new prohibition dismantles the fixed-odds betting framework, but does not create a separate prohibition against online poker.
Poker industry reporting consequently indicates that major international poker platforms continue to accept Brazilian players following Friday’s announcement.
The distinction is particularly relevant for major brands including PokerStars and GGPoker (GGPoker review).
Brazil is one of the world’s largest poker markets and has produced a substantial community of professional and recreational online players.
However, the legal position shouldn’t be confused with the federal gambling licences that were introduced for sportsbooks and online casinos.
Those authorisations were created under Brazil’s fixed-odds betting legislation.
The new provisional measure specifically attacks that system.
It prevents licensed betting companies from accepting new deposits, gives customers until October 5 to voluntarily withdraw account balances and requires betting operations to cease.
Operators unable to return balances directly will subsequently have to provide account information so money can be returned through the banking system.
The Brazilian Congress can still amend or reject the measure.
As a provisional measure, MP 1,394 took effect immediately but requires congressional approval to remain in force permanently.
For the moment, the important distinction for players is that Brazil has banned the fixed-odds betting system covering sportsbooks and online casino games, rather than enacting a blanket prohibition on every form of online gambling.
