Brazilian Supreme Court justice adds sports bodies to betting-ban hearing
Regulation2 min read
In brief
- The hearing concerns Provisional Measure 1,394, signed on 25 September 2026, which bans sports betting and virtual games.
- Government, sports, industry and civil society groups are listed to take part in the Second Panel hearing.
Justice Luiz Fux of Brazil's Supreme Court has requested that the Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) join a public hearing on the national betting ban, set for 3 November. The session is to take place before the court's Second Panel.
The session was arranged after the Office of the Attorney General (AGU) made a formal request, alongside formal representation and applications from the parties behind Direct Action of Unconstitutionality No. 8,027 and from organisations admitted as interested contributors. The report states that the aim is to supply technical information so the court can weigh the legal and wider effects of the measure.
At issue is Provisional Measure 1,394, which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed on 25 September 2026. Under the measure, sports betting and virtual games may not be run, offered, intermediated or advertised.
Federal government officials due to attend include representatives of the Ministry of Sport, the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Finance. The National Confederation of Commerce (CNC) and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) will represent economic interests generally.
Sports will be represented by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the clubs Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, São Paulo, Corinthians, Vitória, Ponte Preta, Guarani and Portuguesa.
Betting industry bodies taking part are the National Association for Legal Certainty in Games and Betting (ANSEJA), the International Gaming Association (AIGAMING), the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR). The Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (ABLE) and the Brazilian Association of State Lottery Concessionaires and Permit Holders are also listed as participants.
Other participants include representatives of the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT), the Regulatory Laboratory of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), the National Association of Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Brazil (ANPV) and the Brazilian Association of Criminal Lawyers (Abracrim).
According to the report, the range of participants reflects the spread of the dispute across sports, government, commerce, industry, broadcasting and legal organisations. The 3 November hearing will give the invited groups an opportunity to set out their objections to the measure's impact.