Brazil court suspends Stake’s exemption from gambling ban
Stake's special permission to operate in Brazil has been suspended. A federal regional court has put on hold the decision that let it trade until 25 October 2026 despite the national gambling ban.
What happened
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's decree banned all gambling from 25 September 2026. Judge Rodrigues dos Santos of São Paulo's 9th Federal Civil Court then allowed Stake to continue until 25 October – the only licensed operator granted that, which critics described as a de facto monopoly.
Judge Di Salvo of the Federal Regional Court suspended the ruling, citing the risk of "regulatory asymmetry". SBC News reports that the appeal most likely came from the Attorney General's Office (AGU) or the Federal Prosecutor's Office (PGR), both of which back the decree.
- Gambling has been banned in Brazil since 25 September 2026.
- Stake's temporary right to operate has been suspended.
- Licensed operators launched in 2024, many with five-year SPA licences.
- Congress and the Supreme Court will decide the ban's future.
What's next
Industry associations ANJL and IBJR say the ban undermines multi-year licences. Congress and the Supreme Court may revisit the issue after the presidential election cycle ends on 25 October 2026.
Our advice
Regulation can change quickly, so choose operators licensed where you live. Our guides to fastest payout casinos and mobile casinos can help you compare.
Source: SBC News, 12 October 2026. This article is based on publicly reported news; our editors summarised and rewrote it for Ottawa readers.