Brazil’s Supreme Court sets betting ban hearing

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) will hold a public hearing on November 3 into President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s prohibition of fixed-odds betting.

Justice Luiz Fux signed the order authorising the hearing on October 26, a day after Lula won the run-off with 51.79 per cent of the vote to Flávio Bolsonaro’s 48.21 per cent. Bolsonaro had led the first round on October 4, 47.03 per cent to 45.16 per cent. Lula had signed a provisional measure banning fixed-odds betting nine days before that vote.

Fux held off acting during the campaign so it would not be seen as interference in the political process. He cited the measure’s deadlines and its economic impact on football and other sectors as reasons for urgency.

The measure forced licensed operators offline from October 6. It also terminated 85 authorisations, each bought for R$30 million, with no right to compensation. Congress must approve it within 120 days for it to remain valid.

The hearing covers seven constitutional actions, including one brought by operator bodies ANJL and IBJR. Its 26 participants include the government, broadcasters, the Brazilian Football Confederation and ten clubs, among them Flamengo and Corinthians. The order does not suspend the ban.

Brazilian horse-race wagering operates under a separate 1984 law, which the measure does not expressly abolish.