Justice Luiz Fux of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has scheduled a public hearing to examine the consequences of the provisional measure that imposed a ban on betting. This session will take place on November 3, commencing at 10 am in the STF's Second Chamber, and will be accessible through TV and Radio Justiça, as well as the STF's YouTube channel.
The hearing is linked to Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 8027, currently overseen by Fux. A total of 28 organizations were invited to participate, including representatives from the executive branch, various football clubs, sports organizations, and related associations and institutions.
Entities must submit the names and authorization letters of their representatives via email to adi8027@stf.jus.br by 3 pm this Thursday. Each of these 28 entities is allowed to designate up to two representatives.
During the hearing, each organization will have ten minutes to articulate its views on Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394/2026, which bans fixed-odds betting and cancels licenses previously granted to relevant companies.
Participants list includes several prominent sports clubs: Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, Cruzeiro, São Paulo, and Corinthians, along with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). The Attorney General's Office (AGU), along with the Ministries of Finance and Sports and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR), will also present their statements.
In addition, representatives from the betting industry, such as the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), will be present, alongside groups advocating for economic freedom, media representation, and market regulations, including the Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (Able), the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert), and the Economic Regulation Laboratory at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ Reg).
The ADI 8027 was initiated by the ANJL, which seeks both the immediate halt of Provisional Measure 1.394/2026 and, ultimately, a ruling declaring it unconstitutional. Additionally, the action wants the STF to affirm the legality of the laws governing fixed-odds betting in Brazil. This issue is also contested in three additional ADIs: 8,024, 8,028, and 8,035.
Moreover, the STF is reviewing ADIs 7721, 7723, and 7749, which challenge Law 14.790/2023, known as the Betting Law, which facilitates the regulation of betting in Brazil. In November 2024, a public hearing was held concerning these cases, attracting over 50 specialists and representatives from public and civil sectors. The AGU has proposed a reassessment of holding another public session, supporting the notion that the new evidence collected since then regarding the implications of betting warrants an updated discussion.
The timeline for the hearing is as follows: Justice Fux will begin with ten minutes of introductory remarks, followed by ten-minute presentations from the participating football clubs, with the CBF and COB also given the floor. After a lunch break, the AGU will have its time to present, followed by the ministries of finance and sport. The ANJL and IBJR are expected to share their insights between 3 pm and 3:20 pm. Finally, the International Gaming Association is set to provide its perspective at around 5 pm.
