ANJL seeks renewed dialogue with re-elected Lula over Brazil's betting ban
Brazil's gaming association ANJL congratulated Lula on his re-election and offered to restore dialogue on Provisional Measure 1,394, which revoked all betting licences. It says fighting illegal operators should be the priority.
GamblingSource: iGaming Business
Brazil's National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has said it wants to reopen talks with the federal government after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won re-election. The group represents fixed-odds betting companies and issued a statement recognising the result.
The association's first goal is to try to recover the authorisations affected by Provisional Measure 1,394. Lula announced the measure last month, and it revoked all betting licences as of Sunday. ANJL said it hopes for a democratic and transparent debate despite the president's criticism of the sector, and believes such talks could lead to the return of betting.
In its note, ANJL congratulated Lula and said it hopes dialogue will be restored and that the democratic rule of law will prevail. It also said it will work with the National Congress and the Executive Branch to improve the regulated market and to combat illegal betting, which it says dominated the country during the ban on legalised companies. The association reaffirmed its commitment to social well-being.
The measure took the regulated market by surprise a month ago and halted the licensed sector only 22 months after it was regulated. It has been widely seen as aimed at winning votes in the election.
The fiscal impact is significant, according to the figures reported. In 2025 the sector contributed BRL9.95 billion ($1.8 billion) to public coffers. In 2026, up to the ban, the Federal Revenue Service collected BRL11.1 billion from games and bets, and the expectation had been about BRL15 billion for the full year. The ban closed off that revenue stream.
The source also says the prohibition opened the market to illegal operators, which used it to recruit bettors to clandestine websites. On those sites there is no player protection, minors can access the platforms, no tax is collected, and there is no guarantee that players can withdraw winnings. ANJL argues that tackling illegal operators is the appropriate course of action.
Based on reporting by iGaming Business.