Brazil Proposes Strict New Gambling Laws: Raising the Age to 21 and Limiting Bets
In a bid to tighten controls over gambling activities, Brazilian lawmakers are considering significant reforms, including raising the legal gambling age to 21 and imposing a monthly betting cap. The proposed legislation aims to curb the spread of gambling-related issues, especially among the youth, by introducing stricter restrictions on advertising and sponsorships. brazil gambling laws
Senator Humberto Costa has introduced PL 3,754/2025, which seeks to amend Law 14,790/2023—the current framework governing fixed-odds betting in Brazil. Among its provisions, the bill proposes banning gambling advertisements on radio, television, and online video-sharing platforms between 10 pm and 6 am. It also calls for prohibiting sponsorships and brand displays at public sporting, cultural, artistic, and festival events accessible to the public. Furthermore, any marketing targeting individuals under 21, particularly within educational institutions, would be explicitly outlawed.
A key element of the bill is the introduction of a monthly betting limit, set at BRL1,518 ($276), equivalent to one minimum wage. This cap would apply uniformly across all licensed operators, aiming to reduce excessive gambling and protect vulnerable populations.
Costa emphasized the bill’s social intent: “This project is not just a piece of legislation; it’s a wake-up call against a true social epidemic, which affects, above all, our young people, the most vulnerable, those who should be focused on studying, working and building their dreams, and not trapped in screens that promise easy fortune, but deliver ruin, debt and despair,” he told the Senate on Tuesday.
Pending approval, the bill is scheduled to take effect 90 days after its publication, should it be enacted into law.
The proposed measures come at a time when Brazil’s legal gambling industry is under increasing scrutiny. The sector, which only became regulated at the start of this year, has already seen a provisional tax rate increase from 12% to 18% on gross gaming revenue (GGR). A congressional vote by October 9 is expected to determine whether this increase will be made permanent.
Additional advertising restrictions are also under review, with some provisions similar to those in PL 3,754/2025 already approved by the Senate. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has indicated he would support banning gambling altogether if such a bill reached the Chamber of Deputies.
Read also: Novig Secures $18 million Series A Funding to Accelerate Growth and Innovation
Costa echoed these sentiments, asserting that betting “does nothing good for Brazil,” pointing to its role in fostering addiction, debt, and even suicide. “Not a single cent of the meagre tax these companies collect compensates for the enormous social harm they cause,” he stated. “Betting has become one of the biggest tools of emotional and financial manipulation of our time.”
The industry remains cautious about the wave of regulation, fearing that excessive restrictions could push more gambling activities underground, fueling the black market and undermining legitimate operators. Fernando Vieira, executive director of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming, highlighted the importance of cracking down on illicit markets to ensure the sustainability of legal operators: “The only way operators will be sustainable in Brazil is to increase the channelisation level and, for that, the fight against the illicit market becomes even more important.” brazil gambling laws
