ANJL warns Brazil betting ban could push players to black market

During public hearing on November 3 chaired by Justice Luiz Fux, Brazil’s gambling and sports sectors representatives have warned that banning fixed-odds betting will not eliminate gambling but could drive players towards unregulated operators. The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) said that instead of prohibiting the betting fully in the country, stronger regulation is needed. It’s the most effective way to protect consumers and address gambling-related harm. Association’s legal consultant Pietro Cardia said: The data and Brazil’s own institutional history demonstrate that the attempts at prohibition, which lasted more than 20 years, did not have the necessary, valid effects to deal with them. In 2026, gambling slowed down in Brazil. This is a relevant point to demonstrate that regulation was working. We were already reaping good results. More than 60% were in the regulated market, and only 40% in the illegal market. ANJL legal consultant Bernardo Freire argued that the provisional measure had reversed this progress by pushing demand towards unlicensed websites rather than eliminating it. Freire said: The hasty ban, implemented in a way that disregarded previously granted authorizations, has already backfired. In 30 days, we can easily identify this, demonstrating how readily available an illegal website is. The Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (Able) disputed assertions connecting gambling with home debt and defaults. Eric Universo Rodrigues Brasil, an economist, stated that there was not enough data from official sources to attribute gambling as an important factor in the financial difficulties of Brazilians. His estimates indicate household expenses on gambling in 2025 to reach the sum of R$ 37 billion, while total household expenditure is about R$ 8 trillion. Gambling expenses were compared with other household expenses such as R$ 696.8 billion used on interests, R$ 152.1 billion paid for buying mobile phones and other phone accessories, and R$ 69.7 billion spent on streaming services. Sports sector warnings of funding losses During the hearing, representatives of Brazilian sports organizations warned that the restrictions could remove a major source of sponsorship and investment. Igor Mauler Santiago, from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), said that CBF only can lose R$420 million in revenue in 2027. The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) representative Pedro Henrique Rebello de Mendonça said investment decisions made today support not only the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but also future Olympic cycles. João Paulo Bachur, a lawyer, emphasised the significance of the National Allocation Office (ENDR), which has been established as a non-profit organisation for providing finance to various entities involved in sports and civil society. Reportedly, nearly 50% of licensed betting operators are a part of the ENDR. Bachur reported in his statement that between June and September 2026, ENDR disbursed R$580 million to different beneficiaries including the COB, CPB and Brazilian Committee of Clubs. He expressed fears that cessation of the funding will result in the elimination of a stable source of funding for sports, clubs and athletes. The hearing brought together representatives of the betting industry and economic organisations which were discussing the possible outcomes of provisional measures taken by Brazil. In their lines of proof, they laid emphasis on the increased prospects of illegal gambling development and a decreased funding for sports and other beneficiaries.