Brazilian court blocks Stake’s exemption from gambling ban
A federal appeals court in Brazil has suspended the ruling that allowed Stake to keep operating until 25 October 2026, even though the country now bans all forms of gambling.
Background
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's decree banning gambling came into force on 25 September 2026. Judge Rodrigues dos Santos of São Paulo's 9th Federal Civil Court then let Stake continue trading until 25 October – the only licensed operator to win such an exemption, which critics called a de facto monopoly.
On appeal, Judge Di Salvo of the Federal Regional Court suspended that decision, 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 supporters of the decree.
- Brazil's ban took effect on 25 September 2026.
- Stake's temporary exemption has been suspended.
- Licensed operators entered the market in 2024, many on five-year SPA licences.
- Congress and the Supreme Court will shape what happens next.
What's next
Operator associations ANJL and IBJR say the ban undermines multi-year licences. Congress and the Supreme Court could revisit the issue after the presidential election cycle ends on 25 October 2026.
Our take
Rules can change overnight. Canadian players should stick to operators that are licensed where they live – see sports betting in Canada and our guide to the legal gambling age by province.
Source: SBC News, 12 October 2026. This article is based on publicly reported news; our editors summarised and rewrote it for Canadian readers.