Brazil's betting industry lays off 3,500 workers after new measure
A survey shows 23% of the sector's workforce has been laid off and another 28% placed on leave since the provisional measure took effect.
Brazil's betting industry has already seen about 3,500 workers laid off following the implementation of Provisional Measure No. 1.394/2026, according to preliminary data from a survey by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL).
The first figures from the ANJL survey, with partial data obtained by BNLData, show that 23% of the sector's workforce has been laid off and another 28% is on collective leave.
Together, that represents 51%, or more than 7,600 workers, who have either lost their jobs or been placed on collective leave in less than two weeks since the measure took effect.
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The sector employs about 15,000 workers, with the survey estimating that 4,167 are currently on collective leave.
“We need real numbers to gauge the effects of the measure on workers and companies that depend on the activity,” said Plínio Jorge, president of ANJL.
If current trends continue, layoffs could reach 37% of the workforce, or about 5,600 workers, within 90 days.
This would represent roughly 2,100 additional job losses beyond the current 3,500 layoffs.
The figures remain preliminary and could rise as responses from operators and service providers are consolidated.
The survey covers areas including payments, technology, customer service, compliance, marketing, agencies, affiliates and media.
Companies have placed some workers on collective leave while awaiting decisions from the Supreme Federal Court and National Congress.
Without a reversal, some could subsequently be laid off.
A market source described the scale of the impact, saying: “That's more people than a large multinational corporation.”
The provisional measure, numbered 1.394/2026, has triggered the workforce reductions across the betting industry.
Preliminary data indicates the layoffs and leaves have affected a broad cross-section of the industry's operational areas.
The ANJL is continuing its survey to gather more complete data from operators and service providers.
Isabelle Moreau is the editor of Novello Desserts and writes about family life and everyday living in Canada. The editor signs off on corrections and editorial standards.