Brazil Issues Provisional Measure Banning Fixed-Odds Betting
Philippine operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has announced it will comply with a new Brazilian provisional measure outlawing fixed-odds betting and online games, but does not anticipate a material impact on its financial position.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a provisional measure on 25 September banning most forms of online gambling.
- DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is treating the ban as a compliance matter and expects no material financial impact.
- The measure has immediate legal effect but requires approval from Brazil's congress to become permanent law.
The Brazilian government has moved to prohibit fixed-odds betting and online games through a provisional measure issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 25 September. The directive, which took immediate legal effect upon its publication, bans the operation, offering, intermediation, and advertising of the specified gambling activities.
The government cited gambling-related health and social harm as the primary motivation for its decision. The prohibition is extensive, covering sports betting and online games, including those that had been authorised at state and federal-district levels. However, lottery categories that are already permitted under existing law are excluded from the measure.
Operator Response
In a statement on 28 September, Philippine gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. addressed the development. The company stated that it anticipates no material impact on its overall financial or operating position as a result of the Brazilian measure. DigiPlus confirmed it is treating the new restrictions as an operational compliance matter rather than a significant financial event.
According to the company, its immediate priority was to ensure an orderly response to the directive. This includes the timely processing of customer withdrawals and the return of all customer funds within the period prescribed by the Brazilian government. No fines or other financial penalties against the operator have been reported in connection with the measure.
A strict timetable for withdrawal has been established. New customer deposits were prohibited from 25 September. Players have until 11:59 p.m. on 5 October to withdraw their balances voluntarily. All betting websites and applications are then required to go offline from 6 October. Any remaining balances are scheduled to be returned to players via banks between 9 and 14 October.
Brazil represented the first overseas market for DigiPlus. The company’s GamePlus platform had a soft launch in the country on 22 September 2025. In a separate development, DigiPlus paused its GamePlus operation in Brazil on 10 October to develop products tailored to local players. The operator has not disclosed the value of its investment in the Brazilian market or the extent of its current exposure.
While a provisional measure has immediate force, it is not permanent. The measure requires approval from the Brazilian congress to be enacted into law. Reflecting this, DigiPlus noted that the situation remains uncertain.
The situation in Brazil as fluid and not final, citing continuing legislative and legal processes.
