Brazil’s sudden ban on fixed-odds betting and online casino games became one of the biggest talking points at SBC Summit 2026, with senior gambling executives questioning whether prohibition can address the country’s underlying market challenges.
The discussion took centre stage on the opening day of the Lisbon event, just four days after Brazil’s Provisional Measure No. 1.394 came into effect.
Executives from Flutter, Allwyn and Betsson all expressed concerns about the decision, while sports integrity representatives warned about the consequences of dismantling a regulated market.
Operators Push Back Against Brazil Ban
Tom Bowry, Chief Strategy Officer at Flutter International, said the company was disappointed by the measure after investing in Brazil to build what it described as a sustainable and regulated environment.
Bowry argued that prohibition would not address the problems facing the Brazilian betting market.
Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Allwyn Digital, said the decision had come as a surprise, adding that the measure would not resolve the issues authorities were attempting to address.
Betsson CEO Jesper Svensson described the move as a major trust issue that could have consequences for the industry over an extended period.
Sports Integrity Raises Concerns
The discussion also extended beyond operators.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), said the Brazilian government had not engaged with key sports integrity and betting organisations before introducing the ban.
He argued that dismantling a regulated market was not the solution and called for evidence-based and proportionate regulatory action.
SIGA’s comments added another dimension to the debate, with the consequences for sports integrity becoming part of the wider discussion around Brazil’s decision.
Illegal Gambling Becomes a Wider European Issue
The threat posed by illegal gambling was also a major theme at the summit, extending beyond Brazil.
Pierre Tournier, interim secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), said the organisation is focusing on companies that facilitate or profit from illegal gambling, including payment service providers.
He also argued that there is a case for the European Commission to investigate illegal online gambling content across the European Union.
A separate panel focused on Central and Eastern Europe, where regulatory stability emerged as a key concern for operators. Poland and Hungary were highlighted as markets attracting attention as the region continues to evolve.
Michael Jordan Headlines SBC Summit
The first day also featured one of the event’s biggest names outside the gambling industry, with Michael Jordan appearing on stage alongside Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl and DraftKings CEO Jason Robins.
Jordan, who serves as a special advisor to the boards of both companies, discussed the changing relationship between sports fans, betting and engagement.
He said consumers are increasingly focused on outcomes and have more ways to participate in the sports ecosystem than in the past.
The wider event programme also covered sports broadcasting, horse racing data, in-play betting, artificial intelligence and the future of omnichannel gambling.
With Brazil’s ban dominating discussions from the opening day, the summit provided a clear snapshot of one of the industry’s biggest current questions: how regulators can tackle gambling-related risks without pushing demand towards unlicensed markets.
Source: SBC News