Key Highlights
- On April 30, 1946, President Eurico Gaspar Dutra enacted a nationwide casino prohibition, influenced by his devout wife and political opposition to Getúlio Vargas
- Approximately 70 gambling establishments closed immediately, displacing 40,000 employees without warning or severance
- Sports wagering became legal in 2018, followed by online casino authorization in late 2023, bringing nearly BRL 10 billion ($2 billion) in tax revenue for 2025
- Proposed legislation seeks to authorize integrated resorts, city-based casinos, and bingo operations, with projections of 700,000 new positions and BRL 70 billion economic impact
- While Brazil attracted 9.3 million international visitors in 2025, Las Vegas alone hosted 38.5 million during the identical timeframe
April 30, 2026, marks eight decades since Brazilian President Eurico Gaspar Dutra enacted a sweeping prohibition that eliminated the nation’s entire casino industry. This landmark decision in 1946 brought an abrupt conclusion to what historians describe as Brazil’s gambling golden era.
Decree-Law No. 9215 served as the legal instrument for this nationwide shutdown. The official justification centered on preserving moral standards, legal principles, and religious values throughout Brazilian society.
Historians point to significant influence from Dutra’s spouse, Carmela, whose profound religious devotion earned her the nickname “Dona Santinha” (Mrs. Holy). Justice Minister Carlos Luz championed the prohibition as well, viewing it as a strategic component of his gubernatorial campaign in Minas Gerais—a race he ultimately failed to win.
Political calculations also played a crucial role. Getúlio Vargas, Dutra’s predecessor, frequented gambling establishments regularly. Reports indicated that Vargas’s sibling, Benjamim, maintained ownership stakes in Rio de Janeiro casinos through intermediary Joaquim Rolla.
Immediate Implementation Without Warning
The presidential decree contained no grace period whatsoever. Implementation began the moment of publication, blindsiding operators, staff members, and entertainers throughout the country.
Brazil’s gambling sector encompassed approximately 70 establishments with a combined workforce of 40,000 individuals. Every single employee faced immediate unemployment.
The Lambari Casino in Minas Gerais had celebrated its grand opening merely 24 hours before the prohibition took effect. Property investors received no reimbursement for their losses.
As midnight approached on that final evening, the Copacabana Palace Casino director in Rio de Janeiro declared the concluding roulette spin. The ball settled on black 31.
Afternoon newspapers documenting the closure sold out within hours. The publication Resistência published pieces advocating for the thousands of workers who suddenly found themselves jobless.
Among Brazil’s most celebrated gambling venues were the Cassino da Urca, renowned for nurturing Brazilian artistic talent, and the Copacabana Palace, where elite society converged for wagering, fine dining, and world-class entertainment.
Half a Century of Prohibition and Gradual Reopening
Following the 1946 ban, Brazil maintained nearly complete gambling prohibition for approximately five decades. The 1994 Zico Law created an exception for bingo parlors, which functioned until 2007. At peak operation, close to 1,000 bingo facilities operated nationwide.
Under President Michel Temer’s administration in 2018, sports wagering received legal authorization. However, comprehensive regulations weren’t completed until late 2023, when digital casino gaming also gained approval. Licensed operations commenced in early 2025.
Tax collections from gambling activities reached nearly BRL 10 billion (approximately $2 billion) throughout 2025. Nevertheless, the sector continues encountering resistance from evangelical communities and socially conservative constituencies.
President Lula has publicly opposed betting establishments, incorporating this stance into his reelection approach targeting evangelical supporters.
Concurrently, Senator Irajá’s legislative proposal seeking authorization for integrated resort casinos, metropolitan gambling facilities, bingo parlors, and animal-themed lotteries has advanced through the Chamber of Deputies and received approval from the Senate Committee on the Constitution and Justice. The measure awaits consideration by the complete Senate.
Senator Angelo Coronel has projected that comprehensive gambling legalization would inject BRL 70 billion into the national economy while establishing 700,000 direct employment positions.
Brazil recorded approximately 9.3 million international visitors throughout 2025. By contrast, Las Vegas independently attracted 38.5 million guests during that same twelve-month span.
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