Justice Luiz Fux of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) has announced the schedule for a public hearing that will address the consequences of a provisional measure that prohibits betting. This hearing is part of the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 8027 being overseen by Fux.
The court has selected 28 entities to participate, representing a range of stakeholders including government officials, football clubs, sports organizations, and various associations connected to the issue. Interested participants were required to submit the names and powers of attorney of their representatives via email by 3pm on Thursday, with each entity allowed a maximum of two representatives.
Scheduled for November 3, the meeting will commence at 10am in the session room of the Second Chamber of the STF. It will be broadcast live on TV and Radio Justiça and shared on the STF's YouTube channel. Each participating entity will be allotted 10 minutes to present their views on Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394/2026, which halts the operation of fixed-odds betting and mandates the cancellation of licenses previously issued to companies in this sector.
Among the groups expected to speak are well-known football clubs such as Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, Cruzeiro, São Paulo, and Corinthians, along with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). Other notable participants include the Attorney General's Office (AGU), the Ministries of Finance and Sports, and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR). Additionally, organizations connected to the betting sector, such as the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), will also provide input, alongside groups focused on economic freedom, broadcasting, and market regulation like the Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (Able) and the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert).
ADI 8027 was initiated by the ANJL, which seeks an immediate halt to Provisional Measure 1.394/2026 and ultimately aims for a ruling that declares the measure unconstitutional. The ANJL also requests that the STF affirm the legitimacy of existing laws governing fixed-odds betting in Brazil. Related actions include ADIs 8,024, 8,028, and 8,035.
Additional ADIs (7721, 7723, and 7749) are also pending before the STF, examining Law 14.790/2023, known as the Betting Law, which established regulations for this betting format in Brazil. A previous public hearing on these issues was held in November 2024, featuring over 50 experts and representatives from both public and civil sectors. The AGU has requested to reconvene, citing new evidence on the issue and the impacts of the provisional measure as justification for re-examining the topic.
The hearing will open with 10 minutes of remarks from Justice Fux, after which the football clubs will each present their statements. Following a lunch break, the AGU will present, with the ministries of finance and sports to follow. Betting sector representatives, including the ANJL and IBJR, are slated to speak between 3pm and 3:20pm, with the International Gaming Association concluding the day's presentations around 5pm.
