Brazil state and municipal lotteries association disputes bet.br domain requirement
Since Brazil’s legal online market launched on 1 January, federally licensed operators have been mandated to operate exclusively with the Brazilian internet domain “bet.br.”
On 22 March, ANALOME issued a note arguing that the requirements to use the bet.br domain has influenced public opinion. Companies operating with state or municipal licences often use alternative domains and this requirement was giving those operators a bad reputation among consumers.
As such, ANALOME claims the ordinance requiring operators to use the bet.br domain “imposes an erroneous limitation that violates the principles of legality, free initiative and autonomy of the federative entities”.
This regulation puts the financial contributions of state and municipal lotteries to sectors such as health and education at risk, it said.
The entity’s claims follow the release of the government’s latest ordinance, which established procedures for financial institutions reporting illegal gambling transactions.
On 21 March, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) published Normative Ordinance No 566, which clarified the conditions, deadlines and flows of information for financial institutions to report after accepting bets through illegal operators.
The association believes the ordinance is an attempt from the SPA to maintain a monopoly over lottery operations, contradicting state and municipal autonomy.
“In view of this scenario, ANALOME urges the Prizes and Betting Secretariat to revoke Ordinance SPA/MF No. 566/25, correcting this serious affront to the legal system and avoiding irreparable damage to the gaming and entertainment industry,” said the note, shared with BNL Data.
Ongoing dispute between government and state/municipal lotteries
Signed by ANALOME president Camilo Roma de Brito, the official note also calls for the creation of a working group between the association and SPA representatives.
The working group would analyse the impacts of Normative Ordinance No 566 and attempt to find a solution that would both guarantee legal security and protect the autonomy of state and municipal governments.
“We believe that technical dialogue is essential to develop a fair regulatory framework,” ANALOME added. “This proposal does not exclude guidance on appropriate legal measures, but demonstrates our commitment to consensual solutions.”
The note is the latest move in an ongoing battle between the federal government and state and municipal lotteries.
In February, the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery’s (Loterj) attempts to ensure state-licensed companies could operate nationally were hampered when the Supreme Federal Court (STF) voted to uphold a preliminary injunction.
This banned Loterj licensees from offering bets outside of Rio de Janeiro state borders and mandated geolocation tracking services to guarantee their compliance.
Earlier this month Brazil’s social democratic party, Solidariedade, filed a Claim of Non-Compliance with a Fundamental Precept (ADPF), calling for municipal lotteries to be banned until a final STF ruling was issued on whether they breach Brazil’s constitution.