Flávio Bolsonaro Claims Congress Has Agreed To Restore Online Betting In Brazil

Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly told senior executives at Grupo Globo that an agreement has already been reached in Congress to restore online betting following the government's controversial prohibition.

According to a report by O POVO+ columnist João Paulo Biage, Bolsonaro made the comments during a private meeting with the broadcaster's leadership on Friday, 16 October, ahead of an interview with the television network.

The Liberal Party (PL) candidate reportedly suggested that the principal outstanding question concerns whether online casino games would also be permitted to return, raising the possibility of sports betting being reinstated while casino products remain prohibited.

The reported comments come as Brazil's gambling industry continues challenging Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which imposed restrictions on the country's previously regulated online betting market.

Bolsonaro Discusses Betting Market With Globo Executives

The meeting reportedly involved Grupo Globo President João Roberto Marinho, Vice-President of Institutional Relations Paulo Tonet and Bolsonaro's campaign coordinator, Senator Rogério Marinho.

According to O POVO+, the future of online betting was the principal subject discussed during the lunch, reflecting the commercial and political significance of the government's decision to prohibit the activity.

Bolsonaro reportedly indicated that congressional support already exists for reversing the ban, although no formal agreement or legislative timetable was identified in the report.

The distinction between sports betting and online casinos appears central to the discussions. Casino-style products, including games commonly known in Brazil as the 'tiger game' and 'airplane game', could face continued restrictions even if sports wagering is permitted to resume.

However, the reported agreement has not been independently confirmed, and any change to the existing restrictions would still require the necessary legislative or judicial action.

Globo Reportedly Faces Advertising Revenue Losses

The report also suggested that the prohibition has affected Grupo Globo through both its commercial advertising operations and its involvement in Brazil's regulated betting industry.

Globo is a partner of MGM Resorts International in Boa Lion, the joint venture behind BetMGM's Brazilian operations, which received authorisation from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) in February 2025.

Beyond its direct involvement in betting, the broadcaster previously generated advertising revenue from gambling operators across its television channels and sports coverage.

According to sources cited by O POVO+, Globo has struggled to replace this advertising income, with alternative advertisers reportedly offering substantially lower commercial rates.

The publication claimed that employees had been informed of cost-saving measures, including the cancellation of monthly birthday celebrations and the company's traditional end-of-year party.

Management reportedly presented these measures as an alternative to reducing employee profit-sharing payments. However, no financial figures were provided to establish the scale of the alleged losses, and Globo has not publicly confirmed the reported cost reductions.

Betting Ban Becomes Presidential Election Issue

The reported discussions took place against the backdrop of Brazil's presidential election campaign, with the second round scheduled for 25 October.

During a campaign event in Ipatinga on 16 October, President Lula criticised Grupo Globo and suggested that its dissatisfaction with his administration was partly connected to the prohibition of online betting.

Globo subsequently described its meeting with Bolsonaro as institutional, adding that Lula would also have been received had he requested a meeting.

The dispute has placed the future of regulated gambling increasingly within Brazil's wider political debate, as operators, football clubs and industry associations continue warning about the financial consequences of prohibition and the potential growth of illegal betting.

Bolsonaro's reported comments suggest that restoring at least part of the regulated market could become a priority for a future PL administration.

Nevertheless, the precise scope of any proposed reopening remains unclear, particularly regarding online casino products, while the reported congressional agreement has yet to be substantiated through a formal legislative announcement.