Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has suspended 19 lawsuits challenging President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's nationwide ban on online betting, freezing lower-court cases until the court rules on whether the measure is constitutional. Justice Luiz Fux issued the single-judge order on Sunday 8 November, and it was published on Monday 9 November.

The suspension covers all proceedings in lower courts concerning Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, which prohibited fixed-odds betting and online casino games in Brazil on 25 September. It will remain in effect until the Supreme Court rules on four constitutional challenges, known as ADIs 8,024, 8,027, 8,028 and 8,035, all assigned to Fux. No date has been set for a judgment, and the order must still be ratified by the court's full plenary.

Move follows conflicting lower-court rulings

Fux granted a request from Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who approached the court on Friday 6 November after several lower courts considered applications from betting companies seeking exemptions from the ban. Fux said there was a risk of legal uncertainty from multiple conflicting decisions, aggravated by the possible legalisation of an activity he described as harmful and of high social risk.

The order affects 19 lawsuits filed by betting platforms and the National Association of Games and Lotteries since the measure was enacted, including 14 cases in the Regional Federal Court of the 3rd Region and five in the 1st Region. On 6 November, one lower court had overturned the ban for CDA Gaming's Casa de Apostas, Betsul and Jogo Online sites.

Congress must still decide whether to approve, amend or reject the provisional measure. Its initial 60-day deliberation period expires on 23 November, after which it can be extended automatically for a further 60 days.

Sources: Yogonet and SBC News.