Brazil’s Supreme Court halts online betting ads targeting minors and restricts use of benefits for betting
In a preliminary ruling, Minister Luiz Fux of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) anticipates the validity of regulations that prohibit advertising betting to children, which were set to take effect in January 2025. Minister Luiz Fux ordered a nationwide suspension of any online fixed-odds betting advertising directed at children and adolescents. He also decided that measures should be taken to restrict the use of resources from assistance programs for online gambling.
Minister Luiz Fux’s decision was made in Direct Actions of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 7721 and 7723, proposed respectively by the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC) and the Solidariedade party.
The preliminary ruling (provisional and urgent) requires the federal government to immediately implement the oversight and control measures targeting children and adolescents, as stipulated in Ordinance 1.231/2024 of the Ministry of Finance, which regulates the Betting Law (Law 14.790/2023).
The ruling also mandates that the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for regulation and control in this matter, implement immediate measures to prevent the use of resources from social and assistance programs, such as Bolsa Família and the Continuous Cash Benefit, in online betting. This decision was subject to review by the plenary session of the STF, which unanimously supported Fux’s ruling.
The minister emphasized the evidence presented regarding the harmful effects of gambling advertising on the mental health of young people and on family budgets, discussed during the public hearing held on November 11 and 12. According to the minister, the danger of delay in the decision “must be immediately averted.”
