The Brazilian government launched the Novo Desenrola Brasil program on Monday, aiming to assist individuals with overdue debts. In a move to facilitate this initiative, the administration negotiated with banks to lower interest rates on debts that are between 90 days and two years past due. The program applies to default rates on credit cards, overdrafts, and personal loans, offering discounts ranging from 30% to 90% and capping interest rates at 1.99% per month. Notably, participants will be restricted from placing online bets for one year.
To enroll in the Novo Desenrola Brasil, stakeholders must access their banks’ official communication channels. After registering, they will be prohibited from gambling on online betting platforms. Additionally, banks will not be allowed to transfer funds to bookmakers. Participants are permitted to utilize up to 20% of their Severance Indemnity Fund balance to pay or settle debts.
During the announcement, Finance Minister Dario Durigan detailed that the government plans to utilize funds from the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO). This fund will cover any defaults once individuals begin repaying their new debts. Durigan noted that BRL2 billion (approximately $400 million) from the FGO has already been allocated to the program, with the potential for an additional BRL5 billion from federal budget allocations.
President Lula echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to restrict debtors from engaging in gambling, stating, “That’s why we’re banning people from spending even small amounts of their money on gambling for a year.” Although Lula has criticized betting companies for contributing to household debt, he refrained from launching a broad attack on the sports betting and online gambling sectors, which contributed nearly BRL10 billion to public revenues in 2025 and raised BRL3.39 billion in the first quarter of this year.
Additionally, Provisional Measure No. 1,355 was published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union on Monday, which establishes the Extraordinary Program for Financial Rebalancing of Families — Novo Desenrola Brasil. Although the measure is effective immediately, it will require approval from both Houses of Congress before becoming law.
