Brazil seeks to ban the use of credit for online betting
A bill introduced by Congressman Lindbergh Farias in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies proposes to prohibit the use of credit cards, loans, installment financing, and any other debt mechanism for fixed-odds betting, including sports betting and online gaming. According to the text, bets can only be placed with "own, available, and immediately settled funds in the name of the bettor," eliminating all forms of deferred or committed payment.
The initiative directly targets the combination of accessible credit and online betting as a factor amplifying indebtedness among the most vulnerable sectors of the population. In the justification for the bill, Farias argues that "allowing this risk to be financed through credit cards, installment payments via Pix, overdrafts, personal loans, payroll loans, salary advances, digital credit, or equivalent methods means transforming debt into fuel for gambling." The text adds that "regulated activity cannot be based on credit mechanisms capable of multiplying losses."
The bill establishes concrete obligations for financial ecosystem players. Banks, fintechs, and payment service providers must implement technical mechanisms to block credit operations intended for betting, covering cards, Pix installments, and loans of any kind. In parallel, the initiative prohibits the advertising of credit products linked to betting, including campaigns that promote modalities such as "bet in installments," "credit for betting," or "bet now and pay later."
Sanctions for operators who violate the new provisions include fines, suspension of authorization, and loss of operating license. The bill must be analyzed by the committees of the Chamber of Deputies before a possible vote in the plenary, a process that in Brazil can take several months depending on the legislative agenda and the degree of political consensus the initiative manages to build.
The debate on the relationship between credit and betting is not exclusive to Brazil. The United Kingdom implemented a similar ban on the use of credit cards on online gambling platforms in 2024, a measure that was positively evaluated by public health bodies for its impact on reducing problem gambling. In Latin America, where consumer credit penetration continues to grow and iGaming regulation is consolidating in several countries simultaneously, the debate on this link will reach Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico in the coming years, regardless of what happens with this specific project in Brazil.
Tags: Brazil, betting credits, sports betting, betting regulation, responsible gaming Brazil, Chamber of Deputies, casino card games betting