Lottery

Brasil restriction: Loterj suspends sports betting outside Rio de Janeiro

Wednesday 19 de February 2025 / 12:00

estadao.com.br

⏱ 1 min read

(Rio de Janeiro).- Loterj decided to suspend sports betting outside Rio de Janeiro due to a ruling by STF Minister André Mendonça. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday 13th.

Brasil restriction: Loterj suspends sports betting outside Rio de Janeiro

This measure complies with a decision by Justice André Mendonça, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), in a case brought by the Federal Attorney General's Office (AGU).

The agency has ordered accredited companies to immediately stop operating betting centres outside Rio de Janeiro. Only betting shops that prove they operate in the state, using geolocalisation tools, will be allowed to operate. The decision was published in the Rio Official Gazette on Thursday 13th.

The STF ordered a penalty of a daily fine of R$500,000. The president of Loterj would also be fined R$50,000 per day in the event of non-compliance.

According to the AGU, Loterj's actions opened the way for other states to loosen betting regulations, ‘impacting cyber security, responsible gambling, the financial health of operators and the fight against money laundering’.

Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) and the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) activated their legal departments to appeal against the TRF-1 decision that ordered Anatel to take down sports betting sites and online games not licensed by Loterj.

The two organisations believe that the decision goes against the federal law regulating the sector. Loterj launched a public notice last year to licence betting companies in the state, with a fee of R$5 million. The amount is much lower than the R$30 million fee set by the Ministry of Finance.

Por Eduardo Barretto

Categoría:Lottery

Tags: Sin tags

País: Brazil

Región: South America