Brazil bill seeks full refund of bettors’ net losses

A bill submitted to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, on October 1, would require betting operators to reimburse customers for net losses, with inflation adjustments and no specified start date. In PL 5,502/2026, Brazilian Federal Deputy Ricardo Abrão has proposed that betting operators who take money from their players must refund any players whose total deposits exceed their withdrawals. Net loss, in simple reality, means the net loss from the comparison between deposits made and funds withdrawn or recovered from the operator. When this provision comes into place, operators would be obliged to refund the amounts concerned, with adjustments for inflation from the date the payment was actually made. There shall be no fees, deductions, or anything of that nature. Article 3 lists additional grounds for reimbursement, unpaid winnings, and bets accepted from self-excluding players or through unauthorized debits. However, there is no requirement for the player to prove misconduct by the gambling operator for that player to obtain a rebate of their net losses. No starting or cutoff date is given, bets made before the closure of the market may fall under this bill. It also defines operators without limiting the term to companies holding a Brazilian licence. The proposal also leaves some practical questions unresolved, including whether refunds would be automatic or require a claim, and when the calculation process must be completed. PL 5,502/2026 must now proceed through the legislative process.