Brazil: ANJL fights back in statement against $53m lawsuit

The Brazilian National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has criticized, through a LinkedIn statement, a recent civil action filed by the Rio de Janeiro State Public Defender’s Office. 

The association argues that the lawsuit against 43 authorized betting houses ignores the reality of Brazil’s regulated gambling sector and threatens to undermine progress toward building a safe and transparent market.

ANJL said the allegations made by the Rio de Janeiro State Public Defender’s Office in the Public Civil Action are unfounded and fail to recognize the significant efforts already implemented by licensed operators. 

It stated that, by disregarding the efforts already implemented by the regulated sector to ensure ethical and transparent communication with consumers, the action ignores existing regulations and jeopardizes the institutional progress that Brazil has been building.

According to the Association, the 43 betting houses named in the lawsuit, represented by entities such as ANJL, actively contributed to the development of Annex “X” of the Brazilian Code of Advertising Self-Regulation, released by Conar in January 2024.

This annex sets out clear standards for gambling advertising, including restrictions on content aimed at minors, mandatory responsible gambling disclaimers, a ban on misleading promises of easy profits and comprehensive social responsibility guidelines.

These measures were implemented before the formal regulation issued by the Ministry of Finance.

ANJL criticized what it described as an unfair conflation of licensed betting operators with the illegal market. In its view, the lawsuit disregards the fundamental differences between companies that operate under clear rules, committed to transparency, consumer protection and institutional responsibility and those that act entirely outside the legal framework.

Good to know: The civil action demanded stronger consumer protection and sued 43 companies, including Betano, bet365 and Betfair, for BR300m ($53m)

This kind of generalization, the Association warned, distorts public perception, misinforms consumers and weakens the legal certainty Brazil needs to build a safer, more reliable betting environment.

In light of this, the entity reaffirmed its commitment to a well-regulated and responsible market, aligned with international best practices.

It also confirmed it would participate in the legal proceedings to ensure the distinction between lawful and unlawful operators is not erased by misleading or uninformed discourse.

Carlos Mendez

Writer

Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

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