The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) have filed a motion with Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux to suspend the country's online betting ban. The two organisations are asking the court to halt provisional measure 1.394, which took effect Friday and immediately shut down betting sites.
The associations argue the measure violates constitutional principles and could cause irreversible damage to the industry. Their central claim is that the government failed to demonstrate the urgency required to issue a provisional measure. The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) recorded a 42% drop in wagering between October 2025 and June 2026—no surge that would justify emergency action.
Operators paid BRL 30 million ($5.7 million) for licences and invested in technology and responsible gaming controls. ANJL and IBJR say revoking permits without a transition period or compensation breaks legal certainty. In 2025 the sector delivered BRL 9.95 billion in federal taxes, BRL 2.5 billion in fees and BRL 95.5 million in inspection charges. An immediate ban wipes out future revenue and may trigger additional costs such as severance pay.
The associations warn the ban will push players to the illegal market, which already holds 41% to 51% of the total. Unlicensed sites lack user identification, deposit limits, self-exclusion tools and anti-money-laundering controls.
The National Association for Legal Security in Gaming and Betting (Anseja) has also filed suit in the Supreme Court. It is asking the court to declare the measure unconstitutional and keep existing permits valid until a final ruling. Anseja points to procedural flaws: no budget impact assessment, breach of fiscal responsibility rules, and an attempt to confiscate operator assets without compensation.
