Ministry of Justice imposes five-year secrecy on documents used in the drafting of the Bets MP

The Ministry of Justice has imposed five-year secrecy on all documentation used in the drafting of Provisional Measure (MP) No. 1,394/2026, known as the Bets MP, which prohibited the operation, offering, and advertising of sports betting and online games in Brazil. According to Poder360, a request made through the Access to Information Law (LAI) to obtain access to the content was rejected by the government based on a classification term dated September 24, one day before the measure was signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In determining the secrecy of the documents, the Secretary of Digital Rights of the Ministry of Justice, Victor Oliveira Fernandes, argued that the disclosure of the material could result “in a risk to the life, safety, or health of the population,” in addition to representing a “high risk to the financial, economic, or monetary stability of the country.” The document establishes that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice to inspect app stores, operating systems, and internet application providers, with the aim of ensuring compliance with the ban on betting platforms. It is worth noting that the provisional measure is valid until November 23, with the possibility of an extension for another 60 days. The composition of the National Congress Joint Commission, responsible for analyzing the proposal, has already been announced. However, there has not yet been a formal designation of a rapporteur for the proceedings. In parallel, associations and football clubs are questioning the constitutionality of the Bets MP in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) through various lawsuits. The entities are also requesting the suspension of its effects until the ruling by the Court’s Plenary. Positioning of clubs at the STF public hearing On Tuesday (3), several teams sent representatives to the public hearing held at the STF. The lawyer and vice-president of Grêmio, Eduardo Schumacher, criticized the sudden suspension of advertising and sponsorships from sports betting houses to Brazilian clubs. “In Grêmio’s case, the main shirt sponsorship contract is intended to sustain the salaries of athletes and employees, youth categories, women’s football and, above all, commitments to creditors. Overnight, it ceased to exist. At Grêmio, there is still a peculiarity, Justice: Grêmio went practically a year without a main shirt sponsor because there were no companies willing to invest in clubs as betting houses do.” André Sica, representative of Esporte Clube Vitória, stated that the Bahia team is already at risk of running out of resources and, therefore, defended the suspension of the provisional measure. “Basically, we reiterate the request for the suspension of the MP, so that the activity can return and, upon returning, make its payments; so that the clubs can breathe; and so that Congress can begin to treat it in the same responsible manner as it was, with a new regulation, bringing not only a transition period, but eventually even greater oversight of the sector.” Representatives from the National Federation of Professional Football Athletes also participated in the hearing, expressing concern over the portion of betting contracts that belong to the players, the risk of unemployment among professional athletes, and the growth of the irregular online betting market. O post Ministry of Justice imposes five-year secrecy on documents used in the drafting of the Bets MP apareceu primeiro em iGaming Brazil.