Brazil halts betting lawsuits, US targets geographic restrictions

In Brazil, Johonsom Di Salvo, President of the Third Region Federal Court (TRF-3), suspended on 6 November 2026 the interim protection granted to CDA Gaming. The decision, issued at the request of the Attorney General's Office, halts the company's authority until a final judgment is delivered or TRF-3 issues a new ruling. Di Salvo also applied to CDA Gaming the effects of the 10 October decision that halted the activities of Stake Brasil.

Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luiz Fux, in a decision on 8 November in case ADI 8,027, suspended all first and second instance cases debating the constitutionality of Provisional Measure 1,394/2026. The decision cited the risk of conflicting outcomes and the possibility that an activity posing high social risk could be freed. The suspension will last until cases ADI 8,024, 8,027, 8,028 and 8,035 are decided.

The decision does not suspend the measure itself, and the fixed-odds betting ban remains in force. The ruling by a single judge is subject to approval by the full bench (ad referendum). No date has been set for this. The 60-day initial period for the measure in Congress expires on 23 November 2026.

In the United States, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) published on 5 November 2026 a commentary on neutral access terms. Federally regulated exchanges such as Kalshi and Polymarket US must either remove domestic geographic restrictions within 30 days or explain to the Market Oversight Division why compliance is not possible. This deadline expires on 5 December 2026. The commentary uses sports contracts and election markets as examples. The Commission has not explained how the commentary will apply to state laws and to markets blocked by court rulings.

In South Africa, the Pretoria High Court annulled the award of the fourth National Lottery and Sports Pool licence to Sizekhaya Holdings. The court found errors in the process, in particular in the role of a ministerial committee appointed by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau instead of the Transport Minister, and asked the ministry to reconsider the decision without relying on that committee's report. The invalidity declaration has been suspended for two six-month periods. The first period is for reconsideration, and the second is for a new licence and transition if another applicant is selected. The lottery continues to operate. Sizekhaya said the court made no finding against it and business continues as usual. Ithuba said it confirmed the court's position.

In the UK, the independent Gambling Policy Commission has begun examining whether the 2005 Gambling Act remains appropriate and whether new legislation is needed. The commission is chaired by Professor Jagjit Chadha of Cambridge University. It is not an official government body and has no direct influence on policy. The call for evidence closes on 12 February 2027, and a final report is expected in 2028.

In Ireland, the Department of Justice announced that talks are ongoing on starting the advertising watershed under Section 149 of the 2024 Gambling Regulation Act, but no date can be given. In Lithuania, a coalition working group reached an agreement in principle on tiered taxation of gambling licences on 5 November. Rates and brackets have not yet been set. In Argentina, Senate majority leader Patricia Bullrich said on 9 November that the bill on online betting and gambling losses will be taken up in the Senate in the coming weeks. If the bill is not passed by 30 November 2026, it will lose its status in the chamber.