Government imposes 5-year secrecy on documents about bets

The Ministry of Justice imposed a five-year secrecy on the documents that underpinned the development of Medida Provisória (MP) 1.394/2026, which prohibited the operation of online betting platforms, known as bets, in Brazil. The restriction prevents public access to studies, opinions and other information used by the Lula government to justify the measure. The decision was revealed on Wednesday (4) and raised questions about the transparency of the process.

Secrecy prevents access to technical justifications

According to a report by Poder360 published on Wednesday (4), the ministry denied a request for access to documents submitted on the basis of the Access to Information Act (LAI). The refusal prevents society from knowing the technical arguments that underpinned the ban on betting. The decision is based on an information classification term signed on September 24, a day before the medida provisória edition.

The Gazeta do Povo sought the Ministry of Justice to question the criteria that grounded the imposition of secrecy and requested clarification on the documents covered by the restriction. The report awaits a return. In the meantime, the lack of official explanations raises doubts about the need for such secretiveness around a public policy of great social impact.

Medida provisória changed the law of betting

MP 1.394 was published on September 25 by Lula and amended Law 14.790/2023, which regulated fixed quota bets in the country. The new rule prohibited the operation of bets, reversing a legal framework approved less than three years ago. The abrupt change surprised the industry and raised debates about legal certainty and the real reasons behind the decision.

In October this year, the Advocacy General of the Union (AGU) also changed its position on the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) and went on to defend the unconstitutionality of the laws that regulated the sector. The Union’s attorney general, Jorge Messias, justified the change citing household debt, problems related to gambling addiction and the use of platforms for money laundering.

Context and implications for the citizen

The imposition of secrecy on documents that justify such a drastic measure directly affects the supervisory capacity of society. Without access to studies and opinions, it is difficult to assess whether the ban was based on solid evidence or on political decisions without technical support. Experts at transparência pública often warn that excessive secrecy can hide undisclosed interests and weaken democracy.

In addition, the change of position of the AGU in the STF indicates a turning point in the legal interpretation on the subject. Once favourable to regulation, the government now defends the unconstitutionality of the laws that allowed gambling. This turnaround, together with the secrecy of the documents, reinforces the perception that the decision was taken in an accelerated way and with little transparency.

Next steps and expectations

The Gazeta do Povo report continues to await a response from the Ministry of Justice on the criteria of secrecy. If the case does not show up, the trend is that the case will gain repercussions in Congress and in the press, with possible formal questions from parliamentarians and civil society entities. The Boca no Trombone Portal will continue to follow the unfolding of this story and will bring new information as it becomes available.

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