Brazil's Top Court and Finance Ministry Unite to Tackle Illegal Gambling

Supreme Federal Court (STF) President Justice Edson Fachin met with Finance Minister Dario Durigan on 15 July to coordinate efforts against unauthorised betting operations in Brazil. The discussion covered shutting down illegal platforms, tightening sector oversight, and pending litigation before the court.

Enforcement and Regulation Updates

Durigan presented enforcement data showing the government has blocked 56,000 illegal betting sites, apps, and platforms. The regulated market now includes 85 authorised operators, and nearly 1 million self-exclusion registrations have been recorded. He reiterated a "zero tolerance" stance toward unlicensed sites, describing the meeting as "significant institutional dialogue." Durigan also pledged to keep the STF updated on regulatory actions, reflecting President Lula's commitment to a permanent crackdown on illegal operations and strict supervision of legal ones.

Fachin confirmed that the STF is expected to resume trials on betting-related lawsuits in the second half of 2026. He noted that the court will consider all evidence gathered in case records, public hearings, and future plenary debates. "Now, we will examine the merits of these claims," he added.

Monitoring and Bettor Protection

The government aims to expand monitoring of betting volumes, user indebtedness, and societal impacts, according to Durigan. This data will guide regulatory adjustments, particularly regarding advertising restrictions, bettor safeguards, and anti-illicit measures.

Key Cases Before the STF

Several high-profile cases are pending. Direct Unconstitutionality Actions (ADIs) 7721, 7723, and 7749, under Justice Luiz Fux, address consumer protection, mental health impacts, use of social benefits, and advertising targeting minors. In November 2024, the STF upheld precautionary measures blocking social programme beneficiaries from platforms and suspending ads aimed at children and adolescents. The merits of these cases remain unadjudicated. ADI 7749, filed by the Prosecutor General's Office, challenges the constitutionality of fixed-odds betting laws and Ministry of Finance ordinances; a full suspension request has not yet been reviewed.

Territorial jurisdiction is at issue in ADPF 1212 (rapporteur Justice Nunes Marques), where municipal lotteries were suspended in December 2025 pending full court ratification. In Original Civil Action 3696 (rapporteur Justice André Mendonça), the plenary upheld a March 2025 decision requiring Loterj to implement geolocation to restrict bets to within state borders. ADI 7640, adjudicated in September 2025, declared unconstitutional provisions that barred a single economic group from operating lotteries in multiple states; appeals on clarification remain pending. ADI 7971 (rapporteur Justice Cármen Lúcia) challenges a Rio Grande do Sul law restricting sports betting advertising, including time-slot limits and stadium ad bans, and is in the evidentiary phase.

Gambling Decriminalisation

Extraordinary Appeal 966177 (Theme 924, rapporteur Justice Luiz Fux) will determine whether the ban on games of chance under the Criminal Misdemeanours Law is constitutional. The discussion is scheduled for the plenary on 5 August, with implications for numerous similar cases.