The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) filed the request with Justice Luiz Fux, who already manages separate cases challenging the constitutionality of Brazil’s betting framework. The groups argue the measure is unconstitutional because it lacks the urgency a provisional measure legally requires, pointing to data from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets showing betting volume actually fell 42% in the period before the ban, rather than increasing the way the government suggested. The bodies have asked the court to fully suspend the measure until Congress votes on it or the Supreme Court rules on the underlying case.
The trade bodies stressed:
“The Brazilian state invited private agents to enter the market and now, a short time later, it intends to empty the economic content of the authorisations that it itself granted.”
The trade groups also raised a financial argument, noting that Brazil’s 85 licensed operators each paid BRL30 million for their concessions, adding up to about BRL2.5 billion that the government could be forced to return if the ban stands. Brazil’s attorney general’s office has asked the court for 72 hours to respond before any ruling comes down.
Around 180 industry representatives, including operators and related businesses, met after the ban was signed and agreed to coordinate a joint legal response rather than filing separate cases.
