TLDR Brazil’s Congress returns on August 3 to debate a ban on online casino games. Bill PL 2,258/2026 would keep sports betting legal but remove digital casino products. President Lula has shifted from supporting casinos in 2024 to opposing online gambling now. The bill targets games linked to the “Jogo do Tigrinho” trend and unlicensed platforms. More than 200 gambling bills exist, but only a few have real momentum in Congress.
Brazil’s National Congress returns from recess on August 3. Lawmakers are expected to focus on a bill that would ban online casino games.
The bill is called PL 2,258/2026. It was introduced in May by deputy Paulo Pimenta of the Workers’ Party.
The proposal does not target Brazil’s entire betting industry. It focuses only on online casino games that use electronic or algorithm-based results.
Sports betting with fixed odds would stay legal under the plan. Brazil’s Bets Law started on January 1, 2025. That law created the country’s first national rules for online gambling.
Election Politics Play a Role
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has grown more critical of online gambling in recent months. He has said the current rules do not protect people from gambling debt.
He has also questioned whether licensed betting companies face enough oversight. Brazilian outlet Poder360 reported that the bill is part of Lula’s election strategy.
Communications Minister Sidônio Palmeira has reportedly said gambling is an issue that matters to evangelical voters. That makes stricter rules appealing before the next election.
The government has also raised concerns about the “Jogo do Tigrinho.” This is a nickname tied to the Fortune Tiger slot game.
The term is also linked to unlicensed betting sites promoted by social media influencers. Officials say these sites have caused financial harm and online fraud.
Lula’s stance