Brazil: Fux Expands Betting Ban Hearing to 34 Participants
Brazil.- 3 November 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Luiz Fux, a Justice of Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF), has authorised representatives from the Ministries of Health and Justice and Public Security to participate in the public hearing examining the country’s online gambling ban.
The decision, issued on 1 November 2026, follows a request from the Office of the Attorney General of the Union (AGU), which questioned the original list of participants because it was predominantly composed of football clubs and gambling industry representatives.
The hearing is scheduled for 3 November, starting at 10:00 am in Brasília, with 34 government bodies, associations and institutions expected to participate.
Supreme Court Examines the Betting Ban
The hearing forms part of Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 8027, filed by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL).
The organisation is challenging the constitutionality of Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, introduced by the federal government on 25 September.
The measure prohibits the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting throughout Brazil, including sports betting and online casino gaming.
Industry associations are asking the STF to suspend the measure and examine whether it complies with Brazil’s constitutional framework.
AGU Requests More Balanced Representation
The original hearing schedule was largely composed of football clubs, sporting organisations and gambling industry associations.
According to the AGU, this arrangement risked limiting the range of perspectives presented to the Court.
Of the 26 participants initially invited, 17 represented football clubs or gambling-related organisations.
The AGU therefore requested additional participants capable of providing information concerning public health, security, consumer protection and economic consequences.
Fux accepted the request and approved further participation.
Health, Justice and Retail Representatives Join the Hearing
The newly included participants comprise:
- Ministry of Health: providing perspectives on the health and social consequences of gambling.
- Ministry of Justice and Public Security: addressing institutional issues involving public security and consumer protection.
- Brazilian Supermarkets Association (ABRAS): contributing to discussions concerning the economic effects of the ban.
- Brazilian Paralympic Committee: representing sporting interests.
- National Federation of Professional Football Athletes (FENAPAF): presenting the perspective of professional athletes.
- Grêmio Futebol Porto Alegrense: joining the football clubs already invited.
The additions bring the total number of authorised participants to 34.
Government Ministries Scheduled to Speak in the Afternoon
The official programme allocates individual speaking slots to the participating organisations.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security will address the Court between 2:40 pm and 2:50 pm.
The Ministry of Health is scheduled to speak between 2:50 pm and 3:00 pm.
The Brazilian Supermarkets Association will participate between 3:10 pm and 3:20 pm.
The hearing will begin at 10:00 am and is expected to conclude at approximately 5:30 pm.
Proceedings will be broadcast through the Brazilian judiciary’s official channels.
Eleven Football Clubs to Participate
Brazilian football will be prominently represented during the hearing.
Participating clubs include:
- Flamengo.
- Fluminense.
- Botafogo.
- Cruzeiro.
- São Paulo.
- Corinthians.
- Ponte Preta.
- Vitória.
- Guarani.
- Portuguesa.
- Grêmio.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Brazilian Olympic Committee and Brazilian Paralympic Committee will also participate.
Their involvement reflects the potential effects of the betting ban on commercial agreements, sponsorship arrangements and sports-related revenue.
Fux Highlights Previous Discussions on Gambling Harm
In explaining his decision, Fux recalled that the STF had already conducted public hearings examining gambling-related social harm in November 2024.
Those discussions involved organisations specialising in mental health, consumer protection and safeguarding minors.
The Justice stated that the Court had already considered the harmful social consequences associated with gambling.
Topics previously examined included problem gambling, household indebtedness and the effects of gambling addiction on health.
This background helps explain the decision to broaden the current hearing without fully repeating earlier proceedings.
Industry Raises Legal Certainty Concerns
Gambling industry associations argue that the prohibition affects investments made under Brazil’s federal licensing framework.
They also warn about potential consequences for employment, existing contracts and sports sponsorship agreements.
The ANJL and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) question whether a provisional measure can immediately terminate an activity previously authorised by the state.
The AGU, meanwhile, defends the constitutionality of the prohibition, citing consumer protection and public interest considerations.
These opposing positions will form part of the Supreme Court’s discussions.
Hearing Does Not Automatically Suspend the Ban
The public hearing is intended to gather technical, economic and legal arguments.
The hearing is not a judicial ruling and does not authorise gambling operators to resume business.
Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026 remains subject to legal challenges.
The STF will consider the arguments submitted by the parties before making the relevant judicial decisions.
The proceedings are also significant for international operators that previously entered Brazil’s regulated market and sporting organisations with commercial ties to the gambling industry.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
Expanding participation will bring additional perspectives concerning public health, security, economic activity and employment into the debate.
The involvement of government ministries, industry associations and sporting institutions reflects the range of sectors affected by the prohibition.
The 3 November hearing will be an important stage in the judicial examination of the measure, although it does not guarantee an immediate decision.
With 34 institutions invited, Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court is preparing a hearing that will examine constitutional arguments, economic consequences and the social effects of the country’s online gambling ban.
Edited by: @fonta
