Blask: Brazil's gambling ban could push up to 21.6 million bettors toward offshore sites

Gaming market intelligence firm Blask has published new research estimating that Brazil's recently introduced gambling ban could drive up to 21.6 million sports bettors to offshore platforms. The firm warns that such a shift would expose players to risks involving their wellbeing, their financial and personal data, and their overall safety.

Blask built its projection on a comparison with India, where an online gambling ban was introduced in August 2025. According to the firm, Brazil has 25.2 million legal bettors, and it argues that 86% of them are inclined to look for alternatives outside the regulated market. Blask says it is fairly confident that the Indian precedent is relevant to Brazil.

The ban stems from a snap decision announced on September 25 by the government of President Lula da Silva, which prohibited fixed-odds sports betting and online casino gaming. Licensed operators formally ceased activity on October 6 by switching off their websites and apps. Legal action since then has suggested the measure could be overturned, and some operators have confirmed they intend to keep running their licensed operations in the country.

Blask argues that the move offshore could happen faster than it did in India. In its view, Indian players had to exchange fantasy and rummy apps for offshore casinos and sportsbooks, whereas Brazilians can find the same sports betting and casino products offshore, often from the same brands. The firm also suggests that some licensed operators may continue serving Brazilian customers from outside the country.

The research also points to the economic weight of the regulated sector. Brazil collected $1.8 billion in federal betting taxes in 2025 and received $456 million in licensing fees for five-year authorizations. The industry supports 15,500 jobs, of which 10,000 are direct and the remainder indirect.

The report concludes that closing a legal market does not remove player demand, and that the gap left by licensed operators is likely to be filled by unregulated alternatives.