Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux said Tuesday that online betting should be banned, arguing that gambling addiction poses a public health and economic problem. Fux made the remarks while opening a public hearing on the issue at the court in Brasília.
Fux is the rapporteur for several cases concerning fixed-odds betting, including petitions seeking to prohibit it and others seeking to keep it legal. The hearing brought together institutions and football clubs opposed to a provisional measure issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government that banned online betting.
At the hearing, Fux responded to criticism on social media that he had heard only from groups in favor of betting. He said he had met with organizations opposed to it in 2024, when they warned the court about potential health risks. He cited the Brazilian Psychiatric Association, the Brazilian Association for Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs, Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and Instituto Alana.
“These hearings extensively discussed the harmful consequences of betting,” Fux said. He also referred to gambling addiction, describing it as a mental illness, and said he had become convinced that it was a public health and economic issue that should be removed from national sports.
Fux also pointed to a separate Supreme Court case about a 1941 law that classified gambling as a criminal misdemeanor. The court began considering whether the law remains applicable under Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, but proceedings were suspended after Justice Flávio Dino requested more time to review the case.
Fux had indicated that he would support criminalizing the operation of gambling and physical venues such as bingo halls and slot-machine establishments. The two justices disagreed over whether the case should be limited to the 1941 law or also address online betting platforms.
They agreed that after Dino returns the case, Fux will assess the stage of lawsuits challenging the law regulating betting and release them for consideration. The cases are expected to be examined together from November.
Sources: Folha Mercado.