Novo Desenrola attempts to block the use of Pix credit in betting to curb indebtedness.

In May 2026, the federal government launched Novo Desenrola, a debt renegotiation program. Article 16 of the provisional measure that created the initiative prohibits "credit operations directly linked to the transfer of funds for placing bets." The rule seeks to close a loophole in the payment system that allows bettors to use Pix credit to make deposits at betting sites.

Test performed by FSP A survey of the apps of the ten financial institutions with the most customers in the country identified that Bradesco and Banco do Brasil maintained the option of credit card payments until May 15th.

Brazil currently registers 80,4% of families in debt, according to the Indebtedness and Default Survey by the CNC (National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism). This percentage represents the highest proportion since 2010, when the historical series began.

How does Pix credit work?

Lawyers in the financial and betting sectors interpret the provision as prohibiting the use of Pix credit for payments at betting sites. The text does not explicitly mention Pix credit because this operation is not regulated by the Central Bank or the government.

This method works in two ways. In the first, the financial institution processes a payment on the customer's credit card, charges service fees, and forwards a transfer via Pix to the final recipient. The recipient receives the amount upfront. If the customer fails to pay the bill, they may incur revolving credit interest.

In the second method, the bank grants a personal loan with interest to the client. The amount obtained from the loan transaction is transferred to the commercial establishment.

President announced lockdown in April

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) confirmed the blocking of bets Regarding beneficiaries of the Desenrola program, in a statement made on April 30, 2026, she said, "It's not fair that women have to work even harder to pay off their husbands' gambling debts."

The legislation on betting that prohibits the use of postpaid payment methods has been in effect since January 2025. Ordinance 615 of the SPA (Portuguese Society of Arbitration for Sport) was published in 2024, before the Novo Desenrola (New Unraveling) program. The regulation prohibits the use of "any postpaid payment methods," in addition to credit cards, for deposits on websites of legalized operators.

Banks block transactions for authorized betting sites.

Other financial institutions blocked Pix credit transactions when they identified that the destination CNPJ belonged to a... betWhen a person chooses to play on a government-authorized platform, the deposit on bet Payment is made via a Pix QR Code. This method is similar to a bank slip and can only be used by businesses.

The bank always receives the CNPJ (Brazilian tax ID) of the recipient of the transfer. With this information, it can verify if it is a legitimate business entity. betThe list of the 85 licensed operators is available on the Treasury website. Nubank and PicPay issue warnings about the risks of the operation, in addition to blocking Pix credit transactions.

Regulatory framework foresees severe penalties.

The current regulatory framework establishes penalties for... bets Those who violate the post-paid payment regulations will be penalized. Sanctions include suspension of the government license to sell betting. Fines can reach up to R$ 2 billion.

Lawyers consulted by Folha state that Pix credit would be a post-paid payment method. The consumer makes the payment after the purchase, not upfront.

The Treasury Department stated at the time of the publication of Ordinance 615 that the ban on postpaid payment methods aims to discourage users from incurring debt. Other payment methods such as cash and cryptocurrencies are also banned to prevent money laundering.

Enforcement procedures have not yet been defined.

The Central Bank has not yet defined how the oversight will be carried out, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The monetary authority did not respond to Folha's questions on the subject.

The SPA (Secretariat of Prizes and Betting), an agency under the Ministry of Finance, is responsible for overseeing... betsThe regulatory body does not have the authority to punish banks. The SPA needs to define tools to prevent violations that occur outside the environment of betting platforms.

"The SPA still needs to issue a decree that should give it the power to punish the suppliers of betting operators, not just the operators themselves. That leaves a certain vacuum," stated lawyer José Francisco Manssur. He was one of those responsible for drafting the betting law when he was in Lula's government.

Betting sites fail to identify payment method.

Betting sites claim they have no way of differentiating between a Pix credit transfer and a Pix payment. The credit transaction occurs within the bank's system and reaches the bank. bets Like a regular cash transfer. Betting companies hold the banks responsible for the transaction.

The IBJR (Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming), an association that brings together betting companies, stated: "There is no way that..." bets They need to know and block it when a Pix payment is made as a credit, because the transfer arrives as a normal Pix payment. There is no distinction.”

Plínio Lemos, president of ANJL (another entity in the betting sector), stated that the bets They have no mechanisms to track the type of installment payment. "It's essentially taking out a loan as part of a financial transaction."

Contacted for comment, the Central Bank confirmed that the system works this way. The credit transaction is processed within the banking environment before reaching the final recipient as a Pix transfer.

The Treasury Department informed that the Central Bank is responsible for supervising financial institutions. "In the case of Pix, the operation is processed within the standard infrastructure of the financial system, and it is up to the financial and payment institutions to comply with the rules applicable to any credit instruments associated with the transaction."

Banks claim to be following regulations.

When contacted, Bradesco stated that it operates in accordance with current regulations.

Banco do Brasil stated that it follows applicable regulations. The bank offers credit lines based on a profile analysis conducted by the institution.

Pix credit links credit tools, such as cards and personal loans, to a Pix transfer. Each banking institution operates the modality according to its own criteria. The Central Bank abandoned plans to regulate the product in December. The monetary authority only prohibited the use of the name "Pix installment," which would have been an official product linked to Pix.