Brazil orders takedown of 5,209 betting domains

Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) and Ministry of Finance requested the takedown of 5,209 betting domains under Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, with the first deadlines falling on 5 October.

The ministries said on 29 September that Sedigi identified 1,386 domains and the Finance Ministry’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) identified 3,823. The announcement records requests, notifications and orders in the measure’s implementation; it does not present all 5,209 domains as removed.

Separate deadlines for platforms, apps and advertising

The provisional measure was published on 25 September and prohibits the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting lotteries in Brazil. The MJSP and Finance Ministry announcement links the takedowns to implementation of the measure, without addressing congressional approval or final enactment.

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) ordered the takedown of 2,387 domains and notified 21,000 telecommunications providers about the blocks. SPA is consolidating material for further blocking and accountability measures.

Advertising and platforms must be removed by 5 October. Apple and Google app stores must remove 186 notified applications by 6 October. Google, Meta, YouTube, X, Telegram, TikTok, Kwai and Discord received notices to remove advertising within 10 days. The announcement identifies 8 October for those platforms to remove content from their pages.

The operation also resulted in the removal of 300 Facebook pages and 90 Instagram profiles used to promote or facilitate access to irregular betting. Ciberlab, a unit of the National Secretariat of Public Security, began work on TikTok content. The source said 1,014,722 members and users of Telegram channels, groups and profiles linked to illegal betting were reached.

Refund obligations follow the takedowns

After platforms go offline, companies have two days to provide financial institutions, by CPF, with the amounts owed to bettors and to send the information to SPA. Banks and other payment institutions then have seven days to make the transfers.

The measure also provides that open bets without a result 10 days after publication are cancelled and refunded in full. Prizes for bets whose results had already been determined must be paid.

The announcement connects the operation to investigations into criminal organisations and financial flows, but does not establish adjudicated findings against every affected operator. SPA Director of Inspection Carlos Renato Xavier de Resende said authorities were using "autos de constatação", records containing elements supporting a finding of irregular activity, to support blocking and account measures.

No next official event is identified in the announcement. The stated deadlines are 5 October for advertising and platform removals, 6 October for the 186 applications and 8 October for content removal by the notified platforms.