for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
The First Court for Childhood and Youth of the Federal District, a branch of the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT), has ruled to reject a Public Civil Action against NSX Brasil S.A., the operator of betting site Betnacional, Mr. Jack Bet, and Pagbet. This happened through the signing of a ruling by Evandro Neiva de Amorim, a judge of the same court, on the 13th of January, Tuesday of this year.
The lawsuit was filed by the Center for the Defense of Human Rights “Father Ezequiel Ramin” (CEDECA Pe. Ezequiel Ramin) and EDUCAFRO Brasil. These organizations are headed by very prominent Catholic leaders in Brazil, Father Júlio Lancelotti and Friar David, who have a very prominent presence in São Paulo.
Allegations Regarding Access by Children and Adolescents
In their lawsuit, the groups alleged that “offer fixed-odds betting games accessible to any internet user, without effective technological mechanisms designed to prevent access by children and adolescents.” They further claimed that these platforms allegedly function as a gateway to other online gambling products, including Brazilian Roulette, Online Casinos and Fortune Tiger, popularly known in Brazil as the “Tigrinho Game.”
As alleged by the plaintiffs, a lack of adequate controls would enable minors to engage in betting activities by using another person’s CPF number. Organized entities argued that access to online betting platforms for minors would lead to a direct violation of Article 227 of Brazil’s Federal Constitution of 1988.
Article 227 declares, “The family, society, and State have the duty to guarantee to children, adolescents, and youth, with utmost priority, their right to life, health, food, education, recreation, work training, culture, dignity, respect, freedom, and family and community life, as well as to protect them from all forms of neglect, discrimination, exploitation, violence, maltreatment, and oppression.”
What the Plaintiffs Demanded
Apart from claiming collective moral damages, the groups also demanded compensation for BRL 500 million on grounds of collective moral damages, as well as individual material and moral damages. Apart from compensation, the lawsuit also asked for several corrective actions to be taken by NSX Brasil.
These involved the mandatory incorporation of technological restrictions such as biometric access or facial recognition in order to avoid being accessed by minors, prohibiting the use of stars and influencers in advertisement campaigns, and incorporating the visualization of corporate and legal information such as CNPJ registration, operating license, business address, and customer service information. The plaintiffs further demanded that the operator should be obligated to incorporate warnings and educational messages concerning the dangers of betting, particularly towards children and adolescents.
Judicial Reasoning and Outcome
Judge Evandro Neiva de Amorim refused to grant any of the petitions made by CEDECA Pe. Ezequiel Ramin, as well as those of EDUCAFRO Brasil. In doing so, he ruled that the petition was deemed inadmissible, adding that he ordered the final closing of the file in hand, pending appealed petitions, should these not be presented.
The judge further ordered that no costs will be charged to either party in the case. It is important to mention that this was not the first negative ruling for the plaintiffs. In 2025, the very same court had rejected an application for the suspension of the activities of Betnacional, Mr. Jack Bet, and Pagbet. This ruling comes as the continuation of judicial support for the current regulatory regime applicable in the case of licensed bookmaking operations in Brazil, reinforcing the courts’ precedent in setting the bar high for allegations in the matters they hear.
Source: SBC Noticias
