Brazil Supreme Court Suspends Nationwide Legal Challenges to Betting Ban

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has ordered the suspension of lower-court proceedings challenging the nationwide betting prohibition, aiming to prevent conflicting judicial decisions while the constitutionality of the measure remains under review.

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) has taken another significant step in the legal dispute surrounding the nationwide prohibition of fixed-odds betting.

On November 9, Justice Luiz Fux ordered the suspension of judicial proceedings across Brazil that challenge the constitutionality of Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026. The suspension will remain in effect until the Supreme Court reaches a final decision.

The order follows a request submitted by the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) on November 6, citing the growing risk of contradictory rulings from different courts.

The constitutional validity of the prohibition is already being examined in four cases before the STF: ADIs 8024, 8027, 8028 and 8035.

Meanwhile, several betting operators have sought temporary permission to resume operations through lower courts, creating uncertainty over the consistent application of the restrictions.

The latest ruling follows the reversal of an injunction that had briefly allowed CDA Gaming to resume activities despite the national prohibition.

Justice Fux concluded that parallel proceedings could produce conflicting judgments and undermine legal certainty. His interim order is already effective but must still be submitted to the STF's full bench for confirmation.

Importantly, the decision does not determine whether the betting ban is constitutional. Nor does it lift the restrictions currently affecting operators.

For Brazil's gambling industry, the order further concentrates the legal dispute at the Supreme Court. The eventual ruling could have substantial consequences for previously licensed businesses, existing contracts and potential compensation claims.