Zona de Azar Brazil – Brazil: 100% Ban on Betting on Electoral Results

Brazil – September 19, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com On Tuesday, September 17, the Plenary of the TSE, the Superior Electoral Court, unanimously ruled that offering online and mobile app betting services on election results is an electoral crime. The decision directly impacts betting companies that offered markets on their platforms, which are now considered illegal.

According to the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, at least six betting companies were already offering options on who would be the next mayor in capitals such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, among others. There is still no specific regulation prohibiting these bets tied to the electoral landscape in Brazil.

The TSE stated last week that “these bets could become the subject of court proceedings and could be debated in a future case.” The court is particularly concerned about the early launch of these bets ahead of the next presidential elections, which could further exacerbate the impact of this practice.

The entity had already been on alert, and the TSE’s concern aligns with the possibility that these bets could directly interfere with the voters’ freedom to vote. There are still doubts about whether the funds allocated to candidates constitute an abuse of power.

“For greater electoral legal effectiveness, especially for the ongoing process, ensuring a safe, transparent election for the Electoral Court, with respect for voters who have the freedom to vote,” said Cármen Lúcia.

Following the TSE’s decision, the betting companies offering this market withdrew it from their platforms.

Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com