On October 6, ANJL and IBJR have asked the Supreme Federal Court, addressed to Justice Luiz Fux, to suspend the country’s betting ban until a new public hearing is held.
The primary request would allow authorized operators to continue to accept deposits and bets until such a time as the hearing takes place. The federal government has applied to have a second hearing so that they may consider new evidence from the licensed sector.
Government opposes suspension
The Attorney General’s Office is opposing the suspension and is asking Fux to wait for a filing from the Prosecutor General’s Office prior to making a decision. The organizations stated that having the hearing after authorizations were revoked, contracts ended, and customers left would mean discussing a “fait accompli.” They commented that, in the event the government thinks that further proof is needed, the logical move would be to keep what the proof refers to while it is being obtained.
As a back-up position, ANJL and IBJR wish for market participants to be allowed to carry on until 11:59 p.m. on December 31, unless the deadlines come into force at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2027. In addition to this, their petition includes restoring access to authorized channels and ceasing their traffic redirection, reviving the operators’ social networks, and permitting deals with legal entities even during the period of stoppage or transition.
Illegal market and licence costs
In support of the petition, the government reported that there were a total of 10,435 illegal websites reported for blocking between September 25 and October 1. Also, Bet Legal reported total of 1,195 unauthorized sites as of September 24 and 1,949 by October 6 morning.
Statistical information indicated that 83 enterprises paid approximately €400 million (BRL 2.55 billion) to obtain 85 five-year licenses from January 2025 to March 2026. The provisional measure stipulates that such licenses will finish their term of validity without the right for reimbursement or compensation for license holders.
This comes after ANJL applied for ADI 8027 regarding Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 on its filing with a view to having it suspended. However, this petition contains a narrower request which is still related to the hearing asking for continued legal operation until the hearing date or the start of the transition period as of December 31.
