Almost all gambling activities have been prohibited in Brazil for over 80 years. Since the general prohibition of gambling in 1941, the only legal gambling activities are lotteries under the state monopoly and betting on horse races. According to Brazilian law, poker is a game of skill and is therefore not illegal.
It turns out that online casinos in Brazil are still a gray area in Brazilian legislation. Since online betting is not directly stated in the prohibition, it is technically permitted. It is for this reason that several bills are currently being discussed in Congress.
In addition, integrated resort casinos were included in the Tourism Law, and an Integrated Resorts Law was introduced in 2020.
The history of gambling laws in Brazil has been marked by periods of strict prohibition and, more recently, discussions surrounding regulation and legalization. As Brazil evolves towards a more modern approach to gambling, players are increasingly exploring online platforms for entertainment. In Portugal, casinos moveis em portugal are growing in popularity, offering seamless gaming experiences on smartphones and tablets. These casinos provide convenient access to a wide variety of games, from slots to table games, and reflect the global trend towards mobile-friendly platforms. Just as Brazil navigates its gambling laws, Portugal embraces the rise of mobile gaming, enhancing accessibility and player engagement.
The 1941 Misdemeanor Law and Decree 9,215/46
Historically, gambling has been a popular form of entertainment in Brazil. Gambling was not allowed into the country until the 1940s. However, in 1941, the Misdemeanor Law, which is still in force, banned most forms of gambling.
The government tightened restrictions in 1946, adopting a comprehensive ban on gambling. Decree No. 9,215/46, signed by President Eurico Gaspar Dutra, classifying gambling as a minor misdemeanor, led to the closure of more than 70 casinos.
Caixa Econômica Federal’s monopoly over lotteries
Since 1961, the state-owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal has managed all of the country’s lotteries. Caixa currently offers ten types of lotteries and has issued licenses to more than 13,000 lottery outlets. However, since 2011, Brazilians have been able to bet on lottery draws online. In addition, 16 of Brazil’s 27 federal regions have their own lotteries.
In 2017, government officials began discussing the privatization of the Exclusive Instant Lottery (LOTEX) to end the monopoly system. However, it was postponed several times due to a lack of bidders. In 2019, Scientific Games and International Game Technology (IGT) won the bid and were supposed to pay R$817.9 million for the rights. However, since Caixa did not authorize the transaction by the deadline, the operators withdrew their offer.
Horse Racing Legalization and Regulation
On December 19, 1984, horse racing betting was legalized by Federal Law No. 7,291/1984. Regulation was defined by Decree No. 96,993, four years later, in 1988. This allowed the regulated operation of fixed-odds sports betting at authorized tracks.
Horse racing is limited to non-profit organizations that own a racetrack and are licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply.
Bingo Ban in the 1990s
The Brazilian gambling scene changed again in the 1990s with the popularity of bingo and slot machines. Due to loopholes in the law, the government passed the Zico Law in 1993.
The act regulated bingo games as long as the profits were used to sponsor or promote amateur, religious or other non-profit sports. At the time, more than 1,000 bingo centers emerged, with a total of around 100,000 active machines.
Five years after bingo was authorized, the Zico Law was rejected. Despite this, the halls continued to operate normally between 1998 and 2004, when President Lula banned the sale of bingo games.
Online betting has been permitted, but not regulated, since 2018
In December 2018, with Federal Law No. 13,756, Brazil legalized (but did not regulate) fixed-odds online sports betting. São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the two largest fixed-odds sports betting markets in Brazil, with almost 19 million people.
Offshore operators, based in a jurisdiction where gambling is legal, are valid under the laws of that jurisdiction. The problem with this partial solution is that the execution of these financial transactions is not authorized by Brazilian law, exposing operators to potential criminal action.
The Brazilian Ministry of Economy hopes to close the rules and fill the licensing gap in time for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is also the deadline for the government to establish gambling regulations and issue operator licenses. Once fully regulated, Brazil is likely to be one of the top five legal gambling markets globally.
Bill 442/91
On February 23, 2022, the Brazilian Chamber of the National Congress approved Bill PL 442/91. It seeks to legalize land-based casinos, bingo halls, sports betting and jogo do bicho.
The bill gives São Paulo the right to license three casinos, the state of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro authorize two each, and one casino each in all other states.
Brazil’s gambling laws have shifted dramatically over the years, from strict prohibitions to gradual discussions about regulation and legalization. As the country moves towards a more structured gambling market, players are looking for reputable and legal platforms to enjoy their favorite games. One such example is https://www.elevensports.pt/solverde/, a trusted name in the Portuguese online casino scene, offering a secure and diverse gaming experience. Just as Brazil refines its regulatory approach, platforms like Solverde demonstrate how a well-regulated market can provide fairness, security, and entertainment to players.