The Brazilian attorney general's office (AGU) has requested a 72-hour period from Supreme Federal Court (STF) Minister Luiz Fux to respond to a legal challenge regarding the nation's betting ban. This request was formally submitted on Monday, following a lawsuit filed by various betting entities aimed at overturning a provisional measure announced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday that prohibits betting activities.
The AGU stated that the concerned bodies require time to defend the existing regulations and acts in question which are being challenged. This request is procedural and does not reflect the AGU's opinion on the actual merits of the case.
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) are seeking to suspend the implications of the provisional measure. They also demand that regulatory entities such as the Ministries of Finance and Justice, Anatel (the Brazilian telecommunications authority), the Central Bank, Caixa Econômica Federal (a national bank), and the Internet Steering Committee refrain from revoking licenses, blocking payments, or shutting down websites and applications.
These organizations argue that the provisional measure is unconstitutional, as they believe it fails to display the urgency required for such measures, lacks thorough technical studies on its potential impacts, and may undermine investor confidence in Brazil's business climate.
The lawsuit notes that Brazil is home to 85 licensed betting companies, each of which paid BRL30 million (approximately $5.7 million) for their respective licenses. The provisional measure raises concerns that the government may need to reimburse these substantial fees, totaling around BRL2.5 billion overall.
In its statement, the AGU clarified that the intent behind the request is to provide the government with an opportunity to address the claims made by the ANJL and IBJR before the STF weighs in on these matters. The AGU noted, "The attorney general's office requested this Monday (28 September) that the Supreme Federal Court grant a 72-hour period for the presidency of the Republic and the AGU itself to comment on the requests submitted by the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) in actions discussing rules applicable to the fixed-odds betting sector."
Both organizations' petitions are part of ongoing legal proceedings regarding regulations governing betting platforms, and the AGU believes that the responsible entities should present their arguments before the STF considers the new requests.
