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The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has issued an extrajudicial notification to Brazil’s presidential candidate Romeu Zema (Novo) regarding false information that is allegedly made in the country through its regulated sports betting and internet gaming sector.
According to the notification, statements made by Zema in interviews, an official statement, public events, and social media allegedly distort information about how the regulated market operates. The association argues that such claims contribute to the spread of inaccurate information among the public and regulatory authorities.
“The regulated betting sector, made up of companies authorized by the federal government and that strictly comply with their tax obligations, will not accept speeches based on guesswork or without evidence. In addition to being irresponsible, this type of positioning demonstrates a lack of concern on the part of the candidate in addressing relevant issues based on concrete facts and technical data,” said ANJL President Plínio Lemos Jorge.
Association Demands Public Retraction
The notification requests a general public apology and correction of the information that Zema is alleged to have disseminated in any of his statements. Without doing so, it could lead to legal action, which could result in compensation for moral and material damages, ANJL said.
The statements could have direct repercussions on the companies and operators that are legitimate in Brazil, the association notes, adding that they can promote misinformation among consumers and policymakers. The fight brings an additional aspect to the political debate surrounding sports betting and online gambling that’s been escalating throughout the presidential campaign.
Regulated Market Reports Billions in Tax Revenue
At the present time, there are 85 companies licensed to operate in Brazil. These operators also generated R$9.95 billion of tax revenue in 2025, and an additional R$7.28 billion in the first half of 2026, according to ANJL.
The sector also says it has 1.2 million voluntary self-exclusions (VSEs), a measure to help players manage their own access to betting services. Moreover, 13% of the wagering proceeds go toward sports, health, public security and education.
Illegal Market Remains a Major Challenge
The regulated sector has grown within the framework established by the new betting laws in Brazil, but illegal operators are still a problem. As per the numbers mentioned by ANJL, over 60,000 secret websites have already been blocked by the authorities in Brazil.
According to the association, up to R$40 billion could be in circulation outside the regulated system annually. Growth of the legal market and the continued existence of illegal operators have always been a big point of discussion within the enforcement, taxation and consumer protection debate.
ANJL Positions Itself on Industry Regulation
Established in March 2023, ANJL is composed of companies in the games and lottery industry and supports responsible and transparent gambling, sports development, betting security and the value of the sector for the Brazilian economy.
The association’s membership includes operators, technology companies, gaming suppliers and lottery-related businesses. It has intervened in the Zema case as part of the general ambiance of the regulated-market representatives defending the existing system and questioning assertions that they would say are flawed based on regulatory and economic facts about the sector.
Source: BNL Data
