What happens to betting operator balances after the ban under MP 1.394

If you did not withdraw the balance from your account at a betting operator by 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2026, the money was not lost. The operators reported balances by CPF to financial institutions, which had up to seven days to carry out the full refund, scheduled from October 9 to 14. The entire process was regulated by Provisional Measure No. 1.394, of September 25, 2026, which banned fixed-odds betting in Brazil. If the refund did not reach your bank account within that period, the funds were forwarded to Caixa Econômica Federal, which then handles the payment.

Official shutdown timeline for betting operators

Following the publication of MP No. 1.394, of September 25, 2026, platforms could no longer accept new deposits. Voluntary withdrawals remained available until 11:59 p.m. on October 5. On October 6, all betting websites and apps went offline. Between October 7 and 8, the companies reported to financial institutions how much each bettor should receive, secured the funds for refunds, and submitted the data to the Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA). From October 9 to 14, banks carried out the full refund of the amounts.

Which account receives the refund

The transfer is preferably made to the account from which the original deposit was sent, provided it remains active and belongs to the bettor. A transfer to another account under the same ownership is also possible. The process is carried out based on the data submitted by the operator to the financial institution. If the source account has been closed, the amount is forwarded to Caixa Econômica Federal in the next stage of the timeline.

Unreturned amounts and the role of Caixa

The October 14 deadline was the federal government's timeline limit for refunds by banks. Amounts that financial institutions were unable to return due to operational difficulties — such as incomplete data or closed accounts — were transferred to a designated account at Caixa Econômica Federal. Caixa issues the refund to the account holder under the supervision of the Ministério da Fazenda, and the amounts remain individually identified by CPF. According to the Ministério da Fazenda, guidance for bettors at this stage will be published through official channels.

Open bets and prizes already owed

Bets that were still open and had no settled outcome by the end of the withdrawal period were voided. The wagered amount must be refunded in full to the bettor. If the outcome of a bet was determined before the websites and apps went offline, the bettor retains the right to the prize as normal. The refund obligation covers three components: the available balance on the platform, the amount from voided bets due to unsettled outcomes, and prizes already owed to customers.

Balances at unauthorized betting operators

MP No. 1.394 does not establish the same refund mechanism for unlicensed platforms. If you had a balance at a betting operator that was operating without authorization from the Ministério da Fazenda, the refund rule via banks and Caixa does not apply to your case. Since September 27, 2026, the Ministério da Justiça has ordered the blocking of more than 5.2 thousand betting sites deemed irregular. Law No. 14.790 defined a betting operator as a legal entity authorized by the Ministério da Fazenda; platforms without such authorization were excluded from the formal refund mechanism.

Legal status of MP 1.394 and Law 14.790

Provisional Measure No. 1.394, of September 25, 2026, banned the operation, offering, and advertising of fixed-odds betting lotteries throughout the national territory. The measure revoked provisions of Law No. 14.790, of December 29, 2023, which regulated the sector. Law No. 14.790, published in the DOU on December 30, 2023, and in effect since publication, set the rules for authorization and operation of fixed-odds betting. In the official text on Planalto, key articles such as art. 1 and art. 6 appear with a revocation note referencing the MP. As with any provisional measure, MP 1.394 has an initial term of 60 days, automatically extendable by another 60 if Congress does not conclude voting within the first period. The SPA, linked to the Ministério da Fazenda, is the body responsible for monitoring, supervising, inspecting, and sanctioning companies in the sector.