PT files bill in the Chamber to ban betting houses in Brazil 

The PT caucus in the Chamber, allied with deputies from other leftist parties, presented a bill to ban bets in Brazil. Bill No. 1,808/2026 not only ends fixed-odds betting but also establishes an administrative fine for those who operate bets, which can reach up to two billion reais. The proposal also creates a list of crimes related to fixed-odds betting.

Despite the legislation and regulations created during the PT administration to organize the legality of betting, the measures were not enough to contain the side effects of this economic activity, such as family indebtedness and gambling addiction, which still lack adequate support structures in the public health system.

“The country’s concrete experience has shown that bets ceased to be presented as mere digital entertainment and turned into a permanent mechanism of capturing popular income, intensifying family indebtedness, causing psychological illness, and disrupting household budgets. The problem has already gone beyond the individual sphere of the bettor and now affects family consumption, retail activity, household financial stability, and the State’s own capacity to protect vulnerable groups,” says the bill’s justification.

It is signed by the PT leader in the Chamber, federal deputy Pedro Uczai (SC), along with 67 other lawmakers. Most are from PT, but there are also signatories from PSOL and Rede.

The bill proposes the creation of four different types of crimes for those who operate fixed-odds betting, with maximum penalties of up to eight years—enough to send a convicted person to a closed regime. If approved, the proposal states that all betting houses will have their licenses revoked and must cease operations within a maximum of thirty days.

Betting advertisements, which mainly fund the sports sector, may also be banned. Anyone who violates any of the rules set out in the bill, in addition to the crimes, would be subject to an administrative fine starting at R$ 50,000 and going up to two billion.

The bill was filed in the Chamber’s system on April 14 and, as of Monday the 20th, awaits referral from the House’s Board of Directors to begin its initial proceedings.