Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) has concluded a public hearing examining the government’s controversial ban on fixed-odds betting, bringing together representatives of public authorities, the gambling industry, football and civil society for a day of debate.
A ten-hour public hearing
The hearing took place on 3 November and was convened by Justice Luiz Fux. It focused on Provisional Measure 1,394/2026 and related constitutional challenges. The court’s published account said proceedings ran from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; local legal reporting counted approximately 33 speakers.
Government representatives defended the measure, citing concerns about household debt, gambling-related harm and alleged links between betting and organised crime. The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), by contrast, argued that a broad prohibition risks pushing consumers towards unlicensed platforms that operate outside Brazil’s regulatory framework.
Football sponsorship at stake
Football clubs warned that the ban could create financial disruption by removing sponsorship revenue and asked for a transition period. The issue is significant in Brazil, where betting brands have become prominent sponsors across professional football and other sports properties.The hearing did not produce a ruling. Justice Fux described the session as informational, meaning the arguments will form part of the broader debate but do not determine the legal outcome on their own. The provisional measure is also moving through Congress, with an urgency phase due to begin on 9 November and an initial deliberation period running through 23 November. The coming weeks could therefore prove decisive for the measure’s political future.