Brazil Betting Ban Faces Supreme Court Delay Until After Presidential Runoff

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court may postpone its decision on the nationwide betting ban until after the presidential runoff on October 25, extending uncertainty for gambling operators challenging the government's restrictions.

Brazil's gambling industry faces continued legal uncertainty as Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Luiz Fux considers delaying a decision on the country's online betting prohibition until after the second round of the presidential election on October 25.

The dispute follows Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 25. The legislation prohibits the operation, promotion and intermediation of fixed-odds betting nationwide, forcing licensed operators to suspend their services from October 6.

Industry organisations, including the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), have challenged the measure before the STF. They argue that the sudden prohibition undermines legal certainty, threatens substantial investments and damages businesses operating under previously issued licences.

Justice Fux requested a formal response from the Attorney General's Office (AGU), which supports maintaining the restrictions. According to Brazilian media reports, he is considering ruling only after the presidential runoff, although no definitive decision date has been announced.

Meanwhile, a separate legal attempt to temporarily restore betting operations has failed. On October 9, the Federal Regional Court of the Third Region overturned an injunction allowing Stake to operate until October 25, concluding that exempting one company could undermine the nationwide restrictions.

The ban remains in force while the Supreme Court examines the constitutional challenges. The dispute has also reached Congress, where lawmakers are reviewing the provisional measure.

With operators facing suspended activities, financial losses and uncertainty over their future, the Supreme Court's eventual ruling could determine whether Brazil maintains its nationwide prohibition or reopens the market under a revised regulatory framework.