GR8_TECH report examines Brazil's gambling ban: 16,627 sites flagged for blocking in two weeks

B2B technology provider GR8_TECH has published a report titled 'Operator Lens: Brazil', which looks at the immediate consequences of President Lula's decision to introduce a full ban on legal gambling in the country. The report covers licensing and compliance duties, player behaviour, brand visibility, payments and the outlook for the market.

According to the findings, between 25 September, the date the ban took effect, and 9 October, Brazilian authorities submitted 16,627 gambling-related websites for blocking. A further 3,691 social media pages, profiles and channels were also ordered to be taken down. Many of the blocked sites were likely licensed before the ban.

The report raises concerns about the growth of the unregulated market. It cites the study's finding that three out of four Brazilians had gambled with an illegal provider at least once in 2025. GR8_TECH also warned that migration to illegal offerings could be amplified by high mobile penetration, with mobile phones responsible for around 63% of web traffic in September 2026.

For operators, the document examines the mandatory shutdown orders and how businesses can stay compliant. It also addresses the complexities of player refunds and administrative reporting obligations.

GR8_TECH sets out three possible outcomes: the ban stays in place, it is fully repealed, or it remains with some exceptions mandated by the government. The political context is uncertain. President Lula da Silva is reported to be level with Flavio Bolsonaro in a presidential race due to conclude on 25 October. Both the National Congress and the Supreme Court have refrained from commenting on the ban until a new president is elected. Some experts claim sports betting could return in some form if Bolsonaro wins.

The former licensed sector continues to press the government to take responsibility for the millions of dollars invested in Brazil and for multi-year contracts that became void overnight. For now, regulated gambling in the country remains suspended. GR8_TECH is also hosting a private, operators-only workshop on 29 October, led by its CSO Yevhen Krazhan, to discuss the challenges and practical next steps for operators.