Flutter Entertainment is closing Betfair's operations in Brazil and will run its Brazilian business through Betnacional alone, according to a Flutter statement given to NEXT.io on 23 October.
The closure follows Provisional Measure 1.394/2026, which President Lula signed on 25 September. The measure bans the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting and online casinos in Brazil, including by offshore operators.
Flutter stopped offering sports betting and iGaming in the country. Betnacional and Betfair Brazil stopped accepting bets and deposits the following day. In its statement, Flutter says the measure "profoundly altered the conditions under which Flutter Brazil operates."
What changed for Flutter in Brazil
- Betfair Brazil closes. Betnacional stays as the single Flutter brand in the market.
- Flutter is reducing headcount "across different areas of the business." It has not published a number.
- Anonymous LinkedIn posts from Flutter Brazil staff describe cuts across casino, customer operations, content and commercial teams.
NEXT.io also reported on 23 October that Flutter will close Sky Bet's Malta operation. The report says the closure comes less than 12 months after Sky Bet moved its commercial headquarters from the UK to Malta. NEXT.io gave no further detail.
Enforcement is running alongside the ban
Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Finance have asked for 5,209 betting domains to be taken down. The Secretariat for Prizes and Bets (SPA) of the Finance Ministry flagged 3,823 of them, and the National Secretariat for Digital Rights flagged 1,386. Anatel, the telecoms regulator, ordered 2,387 domains blocked. BNLData reported those figures on 30 September.
Flutter's statement gives the measure as the reason for the Brazil decision. It does not give a headcount for the cuts.