Brazil’s online-gambling restrictions took effect on Oct. 6, closing licensed online betting and gaming services, but peer-to-peer poker has remained available to players in the country. Sports betting and other fixed-odds products fall within the crackdown, while poker is outside its scope because Brazil treats it as a game of skill rather than gambling.
PokerStars told customers that its player-versus-player poker games were distinct from the fixed-odds products covered by the provisional measure and that they could continue playing normally. GGPoker also continued serving Brazilian players, with no comparable connectivity problems publicly reported there.
Some PokerStars customers in Brazil have nevertheless struggled to access the site since the rules came into force. The operator is investigating whether internet-service-provider restrictions are involved, while noting that errors may stem from an individual player’s network or server settings. It said player funds remained secure and that it was monitoring payment services for any changes affecting deposits or withdrawals.
The restrictions followed a Sept. 25 provisional measure prohibiting the operation, offering, brokering and advertising of online betting and gaming platforms. New bets were barred immediately, authorized companies were given a wind-down period, and websites and apps had to go offline from Oct. 6.
The measure gave bettors until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 5 to withdraw balances voluntarily. Funds left in betting accounts are due to be refunded through banks handling payments for the operators between Oct. 9 and 14. The government also said it would strengthen enforcement against illegal platforms, including taking down sites and freezing improperly used bank accounts.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called online betting sites a “cancer” that needed to be eliminated. The government cited a BRL 62.5 billion shortfall in household budgets attributed to gambling in 2025, while the Ministry of Health put the annual social cost of gambling-related harm at BRL 38.8 billion.
Online gambling had been legal in Brazil since 2018. The provisional measure requires congressional approval within 120 days to remain in force. The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming has argued that a total fixed-odds betting ban could jeopardize BRL 58 billion to BRL 73 billion in revenue and would not eliminate demand, potentially shifting customers away from regulated protections.
For now, Brazilian poker players can continue entering tournaments and cash games on PokerStars and GGPoker, even as the wider betting and online-casino market is shut down.
