Brazil's Supreme Court to Re-examine Betting Ban Case

Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) Justice Flávio Dino on Thursday allowed the restart of the case debating whether gambling is still considered a crime in the country. In August, Dino had requested that the proceedings assessing whether the 1988 Constitution provides for a betting ban be examined.

Before making that request, Dino had said he preferred to wait for the progress of other cases concerning betting and lotteries run by municipalities. The court's agenda also includes the constitutionality of decree MP 1,394, which introduced the betting ban. The timing of the case's re-examination will be under the authority of STF President Edson Fachin.

Meanwhile, in early November the STF had begun hearing ADPF 1212, which examines whether municipalities can run lotteries, including sports lotteries. Dino had asked that the proceedings on this matter be considered together, and Justice Luiz Fux agreed with this proposal. Fachin said the files could move forward to be taken up in a joint session at an appropriate time. Fux explained that he needs more time to prepare a vote covering all points. No date has yet been set for the new hearings.