A report released on October 7 by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) reveals that over 3,500 jobs have vanished since the Brazilian president announced a betting ban on September 25. According to ANJL, there are currently 4,167 workers on collective leave, with projections suggesting that the total number of layoffs could rise to 5,600 within 90 days. The figures stem from data submitted by operators and service providers; however, the association did not disclose how many companies responded to their survey.
To gather these statistics, ANJL contacted various operators and service providers for input through a specific form. Among the workforce respondents, 23% reported having lost their jobs, while 28% were placed on collective leave during the same timeframe. Human Resources teams foresee that the percentage of job losses could escalate to 37% over the next three months.
The survey had around 15,000 total respondents. From this data, ANJL estimates the job losses to number approximately 3,500, with the 4,167 workers currently on leave representing those affected. As reported by Amig, at least 36 out of Brazil’s 188 licensed gambling brands had initiated layoffs by October 5. Notable reductions include H2Bet, which let go 170 of its 270 employees, and Rivalo, which nearly terminated all of its estimated 100 staff members. Rei do Pitaco also laid off 40 of around 100 employees while offering 30 additional staff members collective leave.
The job cuts are not limited to gambling operators. Alob Sports, an event and influencer marketing agency collaborating with Betano, has also reduced its workforce. Furthermore, Tunad, a media monitoring firm, reported that gambling operators spent R$1.82 billion on media in the first half of 2026.
As for the broader employment impact, Brazilian authorities have yet to provide insights regarding how the ban is affecting jobs. Both ANJL and IBJR have informed the Supreme Federal Court that the Ministry of Finance lacks studies to evaluate the employment implications of the ban. ANJL has stated it will release comprehensive employment data once the survey results have been fully processed.
