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Another step in the development of the ongoing legal dispute related to regulating lotteries and betting in Brazil was made by the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF). Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, who acts as the rapporteur of the case, allowed Caixa Econômica Federal to join the lawsuit as an amicus curiae (friend of the court).
The decision implies that Caixa will officially take part in the legal procedure aimed at assessing the constitutionality and legality of the operation of municipal lotteries in Brazil.
The legal mechanism of participation allows organizations and people who are not directly involved in the case to provide technical and marketing information needed to reach a conclusion during the litigation procedure.
Regulatory Powers Under Question in the Legal Dispute
The legal dispute was brought by the political party Solidariedade through a direct constitutional action. The lawsuit disputes the legality of the actions taken by municipalities across Brazil to approve and implement local lotteries in their jurisdictions.
The argumentation provided in the lawsuit indicates that municipalities have no constitutional authority to introduce legislation and regulate the issue under review. The lawsuit has become especially topical, considering the expansion of the legal framework of gambling in Brazil.
Decision to Suspend the Municipal Operations
In 2025, the STF has already taken actions in relation to this legal dispute. Specifically, in December, Justice Kassio Nunes Marques decided to issue a preliminary injunction, according to which municipal lotteries would have to suspend their operations immediately.
Notably, the injunction did not only stop all operations conducted by the municipalities but also prohibited launching any other lottery programs in Brazil in addition to the imposed financial sanctions on non-compliant municipalities and mayors.
Now the legal dispute has become especially critical because it plays a significant role in the development of the future framework in regulating lotteries in Brazil.
Caixa Participation May Shape the Conclusion Reached by the STF
The addition of Caixa Econômica Federal to the list of participants in the process can significantly shape the final judgment of the STF.
Indeed, Caixa has always been one of the key players in regulating the Brazilian lotteries market being one of the major state-run organizations that control gambling in the country. The participation of Caixa as amicus curiae allows for providing important information in relation to technical issues related to implementing a lottery system at the municipal level.
According to legal experts, the final decision by the STF will define the distribution of regulatory powers among federal, state, and municipal authorities in Brazil’s gambling sector.
Date of the Final Verdict Not Set Yet
The full STF has not set a definite date when the final judgment will be reached. Until that moment, the suspension issued earlier remains completely valid, meaning that no municipality will be able to run a lottery system.
Once a final verdict will be reached, it will become one of the key decisions regarding gambling in Brazil.
Source: iGaming Brasil
