Key Highlights
- On April 30, 1946, President Eurico Gaspar Dutra outlawed casinos throughout Brazil, a move allegedly driven by his devout wife and political adversaries of Getúlio Vargas
- Approximately 70 gambling establishments were forced to close immediately, eliminating employment for 40,000 individuals without any adjustment period
- Sports wagering became legal in Brazil in 2018, followed by online casino gaming authorization in late 2023, generating almost BRL 10 billion ($2 billion) in tax collections during 2025
- Current legislation under consideration would authorize integrated resort casinos, metropolitan gaming venues, and bingo operations, with projections of 700,000 new positions and BRL 70 billion in economic impact
- Las Vegas attracted 38.5 million guests in 2025, while Brazil recorded just 9.3 million international visitors during the identical timeframe
Today marks eight decades since Brazilian President Eurico Gaspar Dutra enacted legislation that eliminated the nation’s entire casino industry. On April 30, 1946, this sweeping action brought an abrupt conclusion to what historians describe as Brazil’s gambling renaissance.
The prohibition arrived via Decree-Law No. 9215. This legal instrument invoked moral standards, juridical principles, and religious values as justification for eliminating gambling operations nationwide.
Historians attribute Dutra’s decision partly to pressure from his spouse, Dona Carmela, a devout Catholic nicknamed “Dona Santinha” or “Mrs. Holy.” Additionally, his attorney general, Carlos Luz, championed the prohibition while pursuing the governorship of Minas Gerais. Ironically, Luz ultimately failed in that electoral bid.
Political motivations also factored into the decision. Dutra’s predecessor, Getúlio Vargas, frequently patronized gambling establishments. Reports suggested Vargas’s sibling, Benjamim, maintained ownership interests in Rio de Janeiro casinos through a proxy named Joaquim Rolla.
Immediate Implementation Without Warning
The decree provided zero accommodation period. Implementation occurred immediately upon publication, leaving casino proprietors, staff members, and entertainers with no preparation time.
During this period, approximately 70 gambling venues operated throughout Brazil, providing livelihoods for roughly 40,000 employees. Every single position was eliminated in a single day.
The Lambari Casino in Minas Gerais had celebrated its grand opening merely 24 hours before the prohibition took effect. Financial backers received no reimbursement for their investments.
At 11 p.m. on that concluding evening, the managing director of the Copacabana Palace Casino in Rio de Janeiro declared the final roulette spin. The ball settled on black 31.
Afternoon newspapers that day experienced unprecedented demand. The publication Resistência published editorials advocating for the thousands of employees abruptly deprived of their income.
Brazil’s most prestigious gambling establishments included the Cassino da Urca, celebrated for nurturing Brazilian artistic talent, and the Copacabana Palace, where elite society congregated for wagering, fine dining, and world-class entertainment.
Decades of Forfeited Income and Gradual Reentry
For approximately five decades following the prohibition, Brazil maintained virtually no legal gambling options. In 1994, the Zico Law permitted bingo parlors, which functioned until 2007. During peak operation, nearly one thousand bingo facilities operated throughout the nation.
During 2018, under President Michel Temer’s administration, Brazil authorized sports betting. Final regulations weren’t completed until late 2023, when digital casino gaming also received approval. Regulated activity commenced in early 2025.
Brazil accumulated nearly BRL 10 billion, approximately $2 billion, from gambling taxation in 2025. However, the sector continues confronting resistance from evangelical organizations and conservative constituencies.
President Lula has denounced betting establishments as component of his reelection approach targeting evangelical supporters.
Concurrently, legislation introduced by Senator Irajá would authorize integrated resort casinos, urban gaming facilities, bingo halls, and animal-themed lotteries. The proposal has successfully passed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate Committee on the Constitution and Justice. A complete Senate floor vote remains pending.
Senator Angelo Coronel has projected that comprehensive gambling legalization could produce BRL 70 billion in economic activity and establish 700,000 direct employment opportunities.
Brazil received approximately 9.3 million international tourists in 2025. By comparison, Las Vegas individually attracted 38.5 million visitors during that same year.
