Associations of betting groups ask STF to suspend ban on betting in Brazil
ANJL and IBJR challenge federal government's provisional measure and claim risk of billions in losses; request will be analyzed by Minister Luiz Fux
The National Association of Games and Lottery (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gambling (IBJR) on Monday (28) requested Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) to suspend medida provisória which prohibits fixed odds betting in Brazil. The demonstration was addressed to Minister Luiz Fux, rapporteur of actions that discuss the legislation of the sector.
MP no 1.394/2026 was signed by the federal government on Friday (25). It provides for the closure of bookmakers’ operations, as well as prohibiting advertising and sponsorship of the activity. The entities want their effects to be suspended while the Congresso Nacional or STF analyzes the measure. The request does not yet represent a decision of the Supreme Court: until there is a judicial decision, the medida provisória remains in force.
What the associations claim
ANJL and IBJR claim that the ban was adopted without the necessary emergency demonstration for a medida provisória. According to the entities, the change disrupts a market that has received authorization from the government itself to operate under surveillance and taxation rules.
The associations also point to the risk of damage to the companies that paid for the licenses and invested to operate in the country. According to the figures presented at the event and disclosed by UOL, the grants paid amount to R$ 2.55 billion. The possible return of these resources is one of the points raised by the sector, but there is no judicial decision determining reimbursement.
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Another argument of the entities is that bettors could migrate to clandestine platforms after the closure of the authorized companies. This is a prediction presented by the associations to challenge the MP, and not an already established effect of the ban.
What happens now
The application for suspension will be examined on the STF. Meanwhile, the timeline released for the measure provides for a deadline until October 5 for the voluntary withdrawal of balances by bettors and the release of the websites and applications from October 6. These deadlines may change if the Supreme Court suspends the MP.
