Brazil: São Paulo Court Overturns Law Banning Betting on Animal Sports

São Paulo, Brazil – May 13 2025 www.zonadeazar.com The São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) has unanimously ruled that Municipal Law No. 18.147/2024, which banned betting on animal sports such as horse racing in the city, is unconstitutional. The decision was made by the court’s Special Body.

The ruling came in response to a writ of mandamus filed by the São Paulo Jockey Club, which argued that the municipal law infringed on the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate betting systems, as stated in Article 22 of the Federal Constitution. The law, signed by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) in June 2024, allowed a 180-day period for establishments to cease such activities.

Justice Damião Cogan, the case’s rapporteur, affirmed that regulation of lotteries and betting systems falls under federal jurisdiction, citing also Binding Precedent No. 2 of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Since 2022, the São Paulo City Hall has been attempting to expropriate the Jockey Club property to convert it into a public park, citing an unpaid property tax (IPTU) debt of approximately R$800 million.

Editó: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com