Attorney General insists on online gambling ban in Brazil
Attorney General insists on online gambling ban in Brazil
Brazil’s Attorney General, Paulo Gonet, has reiterated his request to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to make online gambling illegal again in Brazil.
Gonet stated that current legislation creates a “serious situation of violation of fundamental rights,” given the “predatory nature of the online betting market.”
The statement was attached to the records of a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of Brazil’s online sports betting law. The case is being handled by Justice Luiz Fux, who has not yet set a date for the hearing.
Currently, the main discussion concerns the government decrees that, by order of Fux, prohibit beneficiaries of social programs from registering on betting platforms. In October the federal government published a rule on to prevent beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) benefits programs from placing bets on online betting platforms.
However according to CNN, ABLE (Brazilian Association of Economic Freedom) stated to the Supreme Court that the government should find a way to prevent the use of funds from social programs without necessarily excluding citizens, who may choose to gamble with money from other sources of income. In addition the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) told the Supreme Court itself that this solution is operationally impossible because, once the benefit is transferred, the government loses control over its use.
In November Gonet requested that the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) declare unconstitutional the laws and decrees that allow online gambling and sports betting sites, to operate in the country. In the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) filed with the Supreme Court, Gonet argued that two laws authorizing the operation of these betting sites do not meet the “minimum requirements for preserving the goods and values of the Federal Constitution.” He also seeks the declaration of unconstitutionality for a set of decrees issued by the Ministry of Finance aimed at regulating gambling websites. Gonet contends that the legislation is insufficient to protect consumers’ fundamental rights.
