Brazil is reportedly preparing legislation to prohibit online casinos, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expected to approve it before the first round of general elections in October. The report gives no further details on the proposed measure.
A proposed ban would change the operating conditions for online casino businesses in Brazil.
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
Brazil’s federal government was reportedly preparing a legal defence against possible challenges by betting companies to a ban. Its legal team reportedly argues that operators hold revocable administrative authorisations rather than concessions; government sources also said reimbursement of operating fees would be assessed case by case and would require proof of loss.
The Brazilian government is preparing a provisional measure to ban betting, according to people who attended a meeting on 23 September. The government is considering legal action to recover debts from operators and does not plan to return the R$30 million operating fees paid for five-year permits. The proposal is still under preparation.
Brazil’s federal government was preparing a provisional measure to prohibit online gambling and restrict sports betting, with the final text still under development, according to a report. The government intended to publish it in the coming days; clubs and betting companies were organising opposition, while the industry estimated the proposal could put about R$1bn in sponsorships at risk if adopted as drafted.
Belo Horizonte’s city council is due to hold a second-round vote on a bill banning betting-company advertising in the city, according to the report. The proposal would prohibit promotional activities, kiosks and naming-rights agreements; it requires at least 21 votes to proceed to the mayor for sanction or veto.
Play’n GO is reportedly preparing for a possible sale to a major regulated gaming business, with sources describing a potential deal in the hundreds of millions of euros. Chief executive Johan Törnqvist declined to comment; Aristocrat, Genting and Light & Wonder were mentioned as possible buyers, not confirmed bidders.
Play’n GO is reportedly exploring a sale to a major regulated gaming business. Sources reportedly said a deal could be worth hundreds of millions of euros. When contacted, co-founder and chief executive Johan Törnqvist replied: "No comment."