President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has banned virtual sports betting and online casinos. Following his re-election, operators are now hoping that the Supreme Federal Court will intervene.
At the end of September, in the middle of the election campaign, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a ban on online gambling. The ban covers casino games and sports betting, while poker is considered a game of skill. Although the ban is currently only a temporary measure, the Senate is expected to turn it into law soon.
Operators had hoped that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would lose the election and that his rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, claimed to reinstate sports betting. However, following da Silva’s re-election, he is now set to begin his fourth term in office.
A final decision has yet to be made, as the case is now before the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF). The Instituto Brasileiro de Jogo Responsável (IBJR) and the Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) argue that the ban will fuel the black market and that only a regulated market can protect citizens.
A hearing is scheduled for 3 November. In addition to representatives of the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gambling and the National Association of Games and Lotteries, supporters of the ban will also attend. A final decision is expected by 23 November.
Gambling Debate Becomes a Political Power Struggle in Brazil