Brazil to Impose Six-Month Betting Restriction on Debt Program Users

(AsiaGameHub) –   Brazil is preparing new regulations for fixed-odds betting that are linked to debt renegotiation. The Ministry of Finance intends to prevent individuals who participate in programs such as Desenrola 2.0 from opening betting accounts for a period of six months.

Good to Know

• Desenrola 2.0 is anticipated to launch on May 1, Labor Day.
• Users undergoing debt renegotiation would be placed on the restricted gambling registry for six months.
• Operators might be given as little as 15 days to update their registration verification systems.

Debt Relief Plan Incorporates Betting Controls

Finance Minister Dario Durigan announced on Monday that discussions with banks had concluded, and the Desenrola 2.0 proposal would be presented to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday.

The program aims to assist debtors and creditors in reaching agreements, while simultaneously reducing the number of families whose income is consumed by debt payments. However, the government also seeks to prevent newly renegotiated debt from quickly turning into fresh betting losses.

Durigan stated:

“We are examining methods to incentivize clients who participate in Desenrola. It serves no purpose to resolve a debt if, shortly thereafter, the individual incurs new debt with betting firms,”

Under the plan, individuals who enroll in debt renegotiation programs, including Desenrola 2.0, would automatically be added to the restricted gambling registry. For a duration of six months, fixed-odds betting platforms and applications would be prohibited from registering them. Following this period, they would be eligible to reapply.

The Ministry of Finance’s Prize and Betting Secretariat, known as SPA, held discussions with representatives from industry associations on Monday regarding the restricted users module. This module currently manages access to licensed betting platforms, and Desenrola 2.0 would incorporate additional checks against a “List of Debtors.”

A designated financial institution would centralize the debt information and transmit it to the SPA query API. While operators already utilize this API, they would be required to modify their disqualification system to accommodate a new code associated with debt renegotiation participants.

Official regulatory text is expected to be released subsequent to the Desenrola 2.0 announcement. The government intends to modify SPA/MF Ordinance No. 1.231/24 and introduce a new regulatory instruction drawing from SPA/MF Regulatory Instructions No. 22 and No. 31.

The timeframe for operators appears limited. Authorities might grant companies fewer than 30 days, with initial indications suggesting as little as 15 days, to update their systems.

Brazil additionally intends to eliminate credit-related vulnerabilities in betting transactions. The SPA is anticipated to clarify that SPA/MF Ordinance No. 615/24 encompasses PIX credit, PIX installments, and any mechanism that directly or indirectly enables bank credit to finance fixed-odds betting.

A separate set of regulations will introduce a Financial Self-Test on betting platforms. The SPA collaborated with FEBRABAN to develop this tool, basing it on the Financial Health Index and tailoring it for the betting sector. This test will categorize users by score and be integrated into operators’ digital platforms.

Its implementation is projected for the first half of 2026. Subsequent amendments to SPA/MF Ordinance No. 1.231/24 could also encompass educational initiatives, user communications, and social media engagements.